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A Monumental Boulder on the Green 



c^' t3 ^ 
1639 1909 

jfairticlt) 

ancient anb flDobern 

A. BRIKF A.CCOTJNT, HISTORIC AND DESCRIPTIVK 

OF 

H Jfamous Connecticut XTown 

PREPARED IN COMMIEMORATION OF THE 

(Two Mun^rc^ an^ Seventietb Bnntvcrsari? 

OF 

^be ZTown'e Settlement 

BY 

FRANK SAMUEL CHILD 

Drcslbcnt ot tbc ffairfielO Ibfstodcal Society 



ILLUSTRATED 



yatrficlb Ibistorfcal Socicts 
1909 



This Book is sold for the benefit of the Fairfield Historical Society. 
Price in Paper is Fifty Cents; in Cloth Cne Dollar and a "alf. A few copies 
bound in red Turkey morocco will be sold for three dollars. 



f ■' "-' 



^■^ 



LIBRARY of CONGRESS 
One Copy Heceived 

MAR 26 1909 

Oooyriffnt Entry 
copy 'b. 



L 



Copyright, 1909 

BY 

Frank S. Chii,d 



INTRODUCTION. 

Thanks are due Mrs, Mabel Osgood Wright, Mr. Milton S. 
Lacey and Dr. Frank S. Child, jr., for the illustrations which 
adorn this handbook. 

Thanks are also due Mr. J. Sanford Saltus and other loyal 
members of the Fairfield Historical Society for their financial 
assistance in the preparation of the volume. 



CONTENTS 

A Summary of Dates, ..... Page 9 

Uncoa, The Great Swamp Fight, 15 — The Towu, 16 — Village 
Green, 17. 

The Academy, 23 — The Old Burying Ground, 24 — Ward Monu- 
ment, 25 — Eunice Dennie Burr, 26 — The East Cemetery, 27 
— Oaklawu, 28. 

Benson Tavern, 28 — The Powder House, 28 — Railroad and Trol- 
ley, 29. 

Black Rock Harbor, 29 — The Beach, 30 — Grover's Hill, 30 — Ash 
Creek, 30 — The Marshes, 31 — Penfield Reef, 31 — Southport 
Harbor, 32. 

The Burning of Fairfield in 1779,33 — General Washington in 
Fairfield, 35, 

Names of Distinguished Citizens : — Roger Ludlow, Lieutenant- 
Governor Gold, Chief Justice Burr, Judge Ebenezer Silli- 
man. Col. Andrew Burr, General Silliman, President Aaron 
Burr, Dr. Caner, Jonathan Sturges, Judge Samuel Burr 
Sherwood, Morris K. Jesup, Dr. Bronson, President Timothy 
Dwight, Governor Tomlinson, President Sereno Dwight, 
Judge Hobart, Judge Roger M. Sherman, Dr. Nathaniel 
Hewit, President Heman Humphrey, Father Augustus 
Hewit, Joseph E. Sheffield, Frederick Marquand and 
others, 36. 

A Village of Pleasant Homes, 41 — The Intellectual Atmosphere, 
42 — Historic Sites, 43. 

Noteworthy Houses — The Burr Homestead, 44 — The Silliman 
House, 46 — Professor Silliman' s story of his father's capture, 
47 — Sherman Parsonage, 47 — The Gould Homestead, 48 — 
Waldstein, 49 — The Rowland Homestead, 50 — Round Hill, 
50 — Mailands, 51 — Greenfield Hill, 51 — Verna F'arm, 51 — 



Holland Pleights, 52— Mill Hill, 52— Witch Hill, 53— The 
First Work of the Landscape Gardener in Town. 53. 
The Churches, 54 — Fairfield East Parish, 56 — West Parish of 

Fairfield, 56. 
Fairfield Fresh Air Home, 57 — A Convalescent Hospital in 1898, 
58 — American National Red Cross, Fairfield Branch, 58 — 
Auxiliary No. 29, 59. 
The Doroth}^ Ripley Chapter — Daughters of the American Revo- 
lution, 60 — The Fountain, 60. 
Eunice Dennie Burr Chapter — Daughters of the American Revo- 
lution, 61. 
Fairfield Memorial Library, ..... 62 

Fairfield Bathing Pavilion, ..... 63 

Pequot Library, Southport, ..... 64 

Sasquanaug Association, Southport, .... 65 

The Village Improvement Society, Fairfield, . . 65 

The Country Club, Greenfield Hill, .... 66 

The Grange, Greenfield Hill, 67 

The Consumers' League, ..... 67 

Audubon Society of the State of Connecticut, . . 68 

The Gould Homestead Summer Home for Women, . 69 

P'airfield Historical Society, ..... 69 

Bibliography, . . . . . . . 71 

Letter of Rev. Andrew Eliot, ..... 74 

"Fairfield," Extract from Dr. Dwight's " Greenfield Hill", 75 



^^"'^•a^ 



ILLUSTRATIONS 



A Monumental Boulder on the Green 

Main Street ..... 

The Pequot Monument .... 

Town Hall — Old Whipping Post in the foreground 

The Sixth Sanctuary of the Prime Ancient Society 

St. Paul's Church ..... 

Lich-Gate at the Ancient Burying Ground 

Ward Monument ..... 

The Powder House .... 

Fairfield Beach — Grover's Hill in the distance 

Southport Harbor — from the Lawn of Mr. W. H. Perry 

Beach Lane, up which the British marched in 1779 

The Sun Tavern . 

Sherman Parsonage 

Arching Elms 

A Colonial House on the Green 

The Burr Mansion 

A Garden View of Sherman Parsonage 

Pulpit Rock 

The Southport Congregational Church 

Trinity Church 

St. Thomas' Church 

Fairfield Fresh Air Home . 

Memorial Fountain — Southport 

Fairfield Memorial Library 

Pequot Library — Southport 

The Fairfield Fountain 

The Gould Homestead 

Mill River Ford 

Saved from the Burning in 1779 

A View on Mill Plain 



Frontispiece. 
8 
15 
17 
20 
22 
24 
26 
28 
30 
32 
34 
36 
38 
41 
43 
44 
47 
49 
52 
54 
56 
58 
60 
62 
64 
66 
69 
70 

72 

74 




Main Street 



A SUMMARY OF DATES. 



The Great Swamp Fight, which ended the Pequot War, 

July 13th, 1637 

The settlement of Uncoa by Roger Ludlow and other ad- 
venturers, 163^ 
Court established at Uncoa, 1640 
First Meeting-house — a log structure — probably erected, 1640 
Magistrates appointed for Uncoa, 1643 
Rev. John Jones and a company from Concord join the 

Plantation, 1644 

Name of settlement changed to Fairfield. 1645 

First Mill built — the miller being Henry Jackson, 1648 

The First Probate Records, 1648 

The First Land Records (the first twelve pages being lost) 

William Hill being Recorder. 1649 

Roger Ludlow's Code for Connecticut completed, 1650 

The trial and execution of ' ' Goody Knapp' ' for Witchcraft, 1653 
Fairfield raises troops and declares war against the Dutch, 
Ludlow being appointed Commander-in-chief of the mili- 
tary forces, 1653 
Ludlow returns to England and serves under Cromwell on 

the First Irish Commission. 1654 

Meeting House rebuilt, 1663 

County of Fairfield established, and Fairfield chosen as the 
Shire town, County buildings being erected and Courts 
held on the second Tuesday in March and the first Tues- 
day in November each year, 1666 
Fairfield Probate Court created for the County, 1666 
Major Nathan Gold appointed by General Court Com- 



mander-in-chief of militia iu Fairfield County, 1672 

A Town Magazine ordered, 1674 

Voted by the Town to build a stockade around the principal 

part of the settlement, 1675 

A new Prison erected on the Meeting House Green, 1679 

The Town orders a Stone Fort to be built on the Green, 168 1 
The Town votes that a stockade be constructed around the 

Meeting House, the School House and the Parsonage, 1689 
Parish of Pequounock (Stratfield) set off, 1691 

Four Trials for Witchcraft, viz., Mrs. Staples, Goody Miller, 
Elizabeth Clawson and Mercy Desborough. The last 
named was convacted, but finally pardoned. The others 
were acquitted, 1692 

Grammar School started, 1 693 

Death of Major Nathan Gold, "A Pious and Worthy 

Magistrate," 1694 

New School House on the Green, 1695 

The new Meeting House, forty-five feet square, 1698 

Rev. Joseph Webb joins with nine other ministers in found- 
ing Yale College, 1701 
Fairfield made a Port of Entry, 1702 
Nathan Gold (the second) elected Eieutenant-Governor of 

Connecticut, continuing in ofiice sixteen years, 1708 

The Parish of West Farms (Green's Farms) set off, 171 1 

The new County Court House, Prison and Jailer's House 

erected on the Green, 17 18 

The Parish of Greenfield Hill set off, 1725 

First House of Worship erected by Church of England 

people on Mill Plain, 1725 

The Parish of Redding organized, 1729 

Church of England people build their second house of wor- 
ship on the King's Highway, west of the Meeting House 
Green, 1738 

The Town orders a new Meeting House for the members of 
the State Church, The edifice is built on the site of the 
former house of Worship, and stands sixty feet long, 



fort3'-four feet wide, twenty-six feet high, with a steeple 
rising one hundred and twenty feet from the foundation, 1747 
Rev. Noah Hobart's Second Book Addressed to the Epis- 
copal Separation is published by D. Fowle, in Queen 
Street, Boston. 1751 

The Parish of Norfield (Weston) is set off, 1757 

Guard House and Hospital for His Majesty's 48th Regi- 
ment erected, 1758 
Stratfield Baptist Church erects House of Worship, 1761 
The Parish of North Fairfield (now called Easton) is 

organized, 1763 

Court House, Jail, Jailer's House and Pound are destroyed 

by fire, 1768 

Town voted in April to erect new Court House, Jail and 

Jailer's House, 176S 

Judge Ebenezer Silliman elected Speaker of Assembly, I773 

Town voted to send relief to Boston — 750 bushels of grain, 1774 
Daughters of Liberty make stockings, linen shirts, home- 
spun garments of various kinds, and send them to the be- 
sieged citizens in Boston, i774 
Major Gold Sellick Silliman appointed Eieutenant-Colonel. 1774 
Washington passes through Fairfield en route for Boston, 

June 28th, 1775 

" Married at the residence of Thaddeus Burr, Esq., by the 
Rev. Andrew Eliot, the Hon. John Hancock, President of 
the Continental Congress, to Miss Dorothy Ouincy, 
daughter of Edmund Quincy of Boston," September 28, 1775 

(Extract from Church Register.) 
General Silliman captured and carried by the British to Long 

Island, May ist, 1779 

The Burning of Fairfield by General Tryon, July 8th and 

9th, 1779 

The Town votes to build a new Town House and Court 

House on site where the School House stood, August 31, 1779 
The Academy at Greenfield Hill is established, 1783 

Fairfield a Half-Shire Town, 1784 



The new i^Ieeting House begun on site of former House, 1785 
"The Conquest of Canaan," by Timothy Dwight, is pub- 
lished, 1785 
Jonathan Sturges becomes the first member of Congress 

from this district. 1789 

Washington visits Fairfield, his fourth visit in town, October 

i6th, 1789 

A Stake is to be driven on the Parade, Mill Plain, where 

the new Episcopal Church is to be built, 1790 

" Greenfield Plill," a poem by Timothy Dwight, appears, 1794 
Dr. Dwight is called to the Presidency of Yale College, 1795 

Trinity Church is dedicated, 1798 

Fairfield Academy is founded, 1804 

Lewis B. Sturges serves this District as a Member of Con- 
gress, 1805 
Fort on Grover's Hill is put in order, and Fairfield prepares 

for war, 1 8 1 2 

Samuel Burr Sherwood serves the District as Member of 

Congress, 18 17 

The State Church is dis-established by Legislature. The 
Prime Ancient Society continues to be supported by a tax 
levied upon members of the Parish, 18 18 

Gideon Tomlinson represents the District in Congress, 18 19 

Gideon Tomlinson is elected Governor of the State, 1827 

Gideon Tomlinson becomes a member of the U. S. Senate, 1831 
Thomas B. Osborne represents the District in Congress, 1839 

Roger Minott Sherman is appointed a Judge of the Superior 

Court, 1840 

The new House of Worship for the Prime Ancient Society 

is erected, 1850 

The Court removes to Bridgeport, 1853 

New House of Worship, Greenfield Hill, is erected, 1854 

St. Paul's Church is organized. 1856 

The Fifth Edifice of Trinity Church is destroyed by a tor- 
nado, 1862 
The Gray Stone House of Worship for Southport Congre- 
gational Church is dedicated. 1876 



Fairfield Memorial Library is founded, 1876 

The Town Hall rebuilt, 1870 

The Centennial Commemoration of the Burning of Fairfield 1879 
The One Hundred and Fiftieth Anniversary of the Fairfield 

Consociations is observed in Fairfield, June 8th, 1886 

Sasquanaug Association organized in Southport, 1887 

The Fifth Sanctuary of the Prime Ancient Society is burned, 

May 30, 1890 

The dedication of the Sixth Sanctuary, May 2nd, 1892 

The Pequot Library is opened to the Public, 1893 

The Fairfield Memorial Library Building is dedicated, 1903 

The Fairfield Historical Society is organized, 1903 



x^r 




The Peouot Monument 



3fairfielb. 



THIS old New England town lies on the north shore of Long 
Island Sound, in the State of Connecticut, about Mty miles 
distant from New York City. 

The many waters of the sea fret the indented, low-lying shore. 
There are various plains extending from the beach and the 
marshes to the first range of hills. The ascending territory rises 
in a sort of terrace-like way as hill after hill contributes its 
strength and beauty to the scene, until such commanding eleva- 
tion is attained that miles upon miles of field and forest, lowland 
and upland, blue sea and rolling country, refresh and gladden 
the eye of the observer. The rich, wide panorama is a beautiful 
expanse of rolling scenery. 

THE GREAT SWAMP FIGHT. 

The dignified and substantial monument reared by the Sons of 
the Colonial Wars in the southwestern part of the town commem- 
orates one of the most important events in the history of the 
Colonies: 

The 

Great Swamp Fight 

Here Ended 

The Pequot War 

July 13, 1637. 

This ending of the Pequot nation led to a beginning of the 
Plantation first called Uncoa. Roger Ludlow, soldier, statesman, 
adventurer, was one of the little army which pursued the fleeing 



i6 

savages. Charmed with the landscape which unfolded before his 
eyes, he sought permission from the General Court at a later 
date to found a settlement here. This purpose resulted in a 
small emigration to this place in the autumn of 1639, under the 
leadership of Ludlow, who was at the time Deputy- Governor of 
Connecticut. Weathersfield, Windsor and the Massachusetts 
Bay Colony were represented in this company. Other planters 
soon followed in goodly numbers. Religious services were im- 
mediately organized, a Court established in 164c, the village soon 
platted, a rude log Meeting-house reared on the site of the pres- 
ent Congregational Church, the stocks and whipping-post set up 
opposite the place of worship on the Green, and the young settle- 
ment assumed an air of hope and prosperity. 

Magistrates were appointed for Uncoa in the year 1643. 
The following year the first minister, with a goodly company 
from Concord, arrived in town. The name of the plantation was 
changed to Fairfield in 1645. The first mill, erected by Henry 
Jackson, miller, began business in 1648, the same year that is 
marked by the first Probate Records. William Hill was the first 
Recorder of papers. The first twelve pages of his Records are 
lost. 

THE TOWN. 

The first settlers purchased the tract from the Indians. Ulti- 
mately Fairfield extended from the Stratford line on the east to 
the Norwalk line on the west, the territory running back into 
the thickly wooded hills some twelve miles from the shore. A 
patent confirming this purchase was granted to the proprietors 
in possession by the General Court of Connecticut, May 25th, 
1685 — a quitclaim deed having been previously executed by the 
Indians. 

The original town has been pared and carved for the advan- 
tage and enrichment of various neighbors — Westport, Weston, 
Redding, Easton, Bridgeport, and the like — until the territory is 
diminished to a quite modest portion of landscape. 

The four distinct settlements which are centres of population 




The Town Hall on the Green 

The Oi.d Whipping Post made into a Bulletin Board 



17 

lie so close together that the town has the appearance of one 
great, spacious, hospitable village. The settlement in the neigh- 
borhood of the Green is the most ancient part of the town. 
Southport has long been the business portion of Fairfield, its 
harbour, wharves, banks, stores and offices bearing witness to its 
importance. Greenfield Hill still retains its beautiful rural char- 
acter, while Stratfield has become practically a suburb of 
Bridgeport. Between four and five thousand people constitute 
the population of the town. 

THE COUNTY. 

The Count}' of Fairfield was established in 1666, the year of 
the Great I^ondon fire. The village of Fairfield became the 
county seat. 

The necessary buildings were erected, aiid County Courts were 
held on the second Tuesday in March and the first Tuesday in 
November each year. The Probate Court was also established in 
Fairfield. In 1718 the county erected a new Court House, 
Prison and Jailer's House on the Green. The honor of being a 
county capital was transferred to the neighboring and aggressive 
city of Bridgeport in 1853 — a neighbor which has largely en- 
croached upon Fairfield territory, taking into the city limits a 
goodly portion of the towni, absorbing the business interests of 
the earlier settlement, superseding Fairfield as a Port of Entr}', 
drawing into the rank and file of its business men mau}^ of our 
most prominent citizens. 

THE VILLAGE GEEEN. 

In platting the settlement the Green became the chief place of 
interest. Here was located the Meeting House, the Court House, 
the Jail, the School House, and the Ordinary or Inn. A cleared 
space for the evolutions of the citizen soldiers was also prepared 
on the Green. 

The Green has verily been the center of life through all the 
generations. Here the townsmen gathered in Meeting House or 
Court House or Town Hall for discussing public matters, and for 



the exercise of the right to vote. Here the train band and the 
militia were drilled — the regulation training days being festive 
occasions, drawing the people together for gossip and bargain. 
Ludlov/ summoned his soldier company to this familiar place 
and prepared them for an attack upon the Dutch, for which he 
was reprimanded by his critical associates in the Colonial 
Government. 

On the west side of the Green a generous piece of water diver- 
sified the landscape, making a pond so deep that Mercy Disbrow 
and Elizabeth Clawson, reputed witches, were thrust into it so as 
to determine by sinking or swimming whether they were daugh- 
ters of Belial or not. It is recorded ' ' that they buoyed up like 
a cork" — evidence which satisfied some onlookers that they be- 
longed to the Evil One. 

The swamp which extended from the pond into the marshes 
was a favorite resort of wolves and other wild beasts, and the 
tradition runs that witch meetings often convened in the dark 
and murky spot, their strange, wild cries sounding hideously 
upon the midnight air, their baleful influences scattering wide- 
spread over the community. 

The Green is intimately associated with the history of the 
Fairfield Bar, for here lawyers, judges, litigants, witnesses and 
spectators gathered for more than two hundred years in the 
Court House, and sought the settlement of legal difficulties. 
Some of the most eloquent and learned addresses ever made in 
Connecticut were delivered in the little, old wooden structure 
near the middle of the Green. The noon hour saw judge and 
jury, defendant and plaintiff, witnesses, with friends and foes, 
mingling amicably together as they passed back and forth be- 
tween Court House and tavern. 

Indians were seen to skulk across the Green and hide behind 
the trees, to the great alarm of the neighbors on many an occa- 
sion. There were periods when this peril became so imminent 
(the year 1675 for example) that the order went forth to stock- 
ade the town. It was ordered that a Town Magazine be main- 
tained in 1674. In 1 68 1 it was voted that a stone fort twenty or 



19 

twenty-five rods square be built on the Green. It was voted in 
1689 that a stockade be built around the Meeting House, the 
School House, and the residence of Samuel Wakeman, the 
minister. 

It was on this piece of open field that Colonel Andrew Burr 
drilled his men when preparing for strife with Indians and 
Frenchmen. Here General Silliman gathered the militia in the 
days when our people were fighting for their liberties. The ad- 
dress to the inhabitants of Connecticut, prepared by Commodore 
Sir George Collier and Major-General Tryon, which was freely 
distributed in town, on their arrival off the shore, received the 
following spirited answ-er: 

"Fairfield, July 7th, 1779. 
Sir: 

Connecticut having nobly dared to oppose the usurpation of 
an unjust and oppressive nation, (as flames have preceded the 
answer to your flag,) we hope they vv^ill still continue, as far as 
in their power, to protect persecuted and oppressed innocence. 

Sam. Whiting, Colonel. 
Sir George Collier and Governor Tryon. 
Per Mr. Sayer, in flag." 

When the British assaulted and burned the town, General Sil- 
liman made his headquarters in the Bulkley house on the south 
edge of the Green, while his troops bivouacked in the open 
spaces lying beneath his eyes. Two or three nights later, when 
the town was nothing but a heap of hot ashes, burning cinders, 
tall blackened chimneys and scorched withered trees, the Conti- 
nental troops, under Colonel Whiting, covered the Green with 
their white tents and turned their hands to the alleviation of 
misery. 

It was in Deacon Bulkley' s house on the Green, one of the 
five left standing, that public w^orship was conducted by Rev. 
Andrew Eliot the Sunday following the conflagration. When 
the local militia left the Green, many of the citizens encamped 
here until some rude shelters were erected for their use on the 
various desolated home lots. 



20 

The new Court House was built on the site of the old School 
House, near the center of the Green, and after September loth, 
1780, the people who worshipped according to the forms of the 
Established Religion of Connecticut used the building for their 
service until the new Meeting House erected on the site of the 
old one was enclosed and made fairly comfortable in March, 1786. 

On training days the Green sometimes assumed the appear- 
ance of an open market, where various articles were offered for 
sale. 

During the War of 1812 the Green became the scene of fresh 
preparations for war, the militia meeting often for drill, the citi- 
zens gathering in the open as a convenient rendezvous W'here 
they might discuss the affairs of the nation. 

When peace was declared a great celebration was here enacted. 
The day chosen was February the 25th, 18 15. Early in the 
morning a Federal salute was fired by the soldiers of Fort Union 
on Grover's Hill. Colonel Gershom Burr had placed his artillery 
on the Green, and an answer to the soldiery of Fort Union was 
returned. 

A procession started from Fort Union at ten in the morning, 
and marched across Ash Creek and along the highwaj', passing 
the Gould homestead, the destination being the Green. It was 
snowing and the day was inclement, but thousands had gath- 
ered to rejoice in the event. The gay, erect soldiers, the bands 
of music, the emblematic craft set on runners, beautifully 
trimmed with red, white and blue — the flags of England, Spain, 
France, Italy, Portugal, and other nations — the ringing of bells, 
the blazing of guns, the huzzas of the multitudes, the gaj^ety, 
enthusiasm and abandon of the da}', made the scene one of the 
most delightful associated with the Green. 

There w^as a religious service in the Meeting Flouse, where 
Mr. Hiimphrey, the minister, made an eloquent speech. Then 
the procession marched up and down the streets so that all the 
spectators might enjoy a good look at their splendor. Then 
everybody hastened to the Green and gazed wonderingly upon 
the steaming, sizzling ox which was barbecued for the entertain- 
ment of the people. 




HousK OF Worship of the Prime Ancient Society 



21 

The second story of the Court House became the scene of 
wildest merriment, for here the feast was spread, and the proces- 
sion of guests streamed in and out through the day. At sunset 
there was another Federal salute, the town was illuminated, each 
window pane with a tallow or sperm candle, the white, crisp 
snow enhancing the brilliancy of the picture. A tall, slender 
tree had been set in the midst of the parade ground, many cross 
pieces being nailed to it, each end of each cross-piece adorned 
with a tar barrel. This tar- besmeared, towering object was then 
set on fire, and the illumination of the tovv^n reached its climax. 

But the crowning event of the occasion was the ball in the 
Knapp tavern on the northeast corner of the Green. The ball- 
room was adorned with much bunting and innumerable candles, 
the fire places heaped with drift wood shed light and heat upon 
the gorgeous assembly, all the fine old garments of the neighbor- 
hood appeared in the pageant, silks brought from China by ad- 
venturous captains, velvets from the looms of France, laces, 
plumes, gold chains and sparkling jewels — the treasured heir- 
looms of a generation. The sober, wearied people tramping 
over the Green disappeared at nine o'clock when the illumination 
concluded, but the youth and the gentry tarried at the tavern 
until the small hours of the night. 

There have been many lively scenes upon the Green at various 
periods of history, sometimes social in character, sometimes 
political, and sometimes martial and occasionally religious. For 
the past twelve years it has been the custom of the Eunice 
Dennie Burr Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolu- 
tion to invite the public to join with them in the observance of 
Independence Day on the Green. The over-arching, venerable 
trees make a natural temple. Beneath this grateful shade the 
com.pany gathers to hear anew the Declaration of Independence 
and a brief patriotic address, to join in singing national hymns 
and to listen to the martial notes of the band. It has become an 
annual re-consecration of the place and the people to the aims 
and hopes of the original planters in Fairfield. 

Very early in the history of the settlement a whipping-post 
and the stocks were placed on the Green directly across the 



22 

street from the Meeting House. The records note how one and 
another offender was sentenced to be whipped twenty or thirty 
or forty lashes, or to be confined in the stocks three hours, five 
hours, or a day. Drunkenness, profanity, unseemly carriage, 
inveagling a girl's affections, petty breaches of the peace, scold- 
ing, profanation of the Sabbath, witch work in the community, 
unlicensed use of tobacco, disturbance of meetings and many 
like crimes were expiated here in full view of the citizens who 
gathered on I^ecture day or on some special occasion. The boys 
had a way of baiting the law-breakers, reminding them of their 
sins and crimes, magnifying the punishment by those pestiferous 
annoyances which are so aptly administered by the rising gener- 
ation. 

The rude jail on the edge of the Green was repaired in 1675 
and a new one built in 1679. The jail with other buildings was 
destroyed in 1768 — set on fire by one of the prisoners. The next 
jail — reared on the site where St. Paul's Church now stands — 
suffered the fate of the town in 1779 and went up in flames. 

When the county seat moved to Bridgeport in 1853, St. Paul's 
Church entered into possession of the property, re-constructed 
the edifice and transformed it into the Gothic structure which 
stands beautifully mantled with ivy to-day, contributing its rest- 
ful and suggestive beauty to the historic Green. 

The Norman Church on the opposite side of the street is the suc- 
cessor of five other sacred edifices which have been reared at vari- 
ous periods on the same hallowed ground. The log Meeting 
House of 1640, re-built in 1668, gave way to a frame building in 
1698. This was superseded by a dignified colonial structure 
worthy of a prosperous settlement. This third building was torn 
down to make way for an enlarged and comely Meeting House 
with lofty spire and ornate entrance. The British burned it 
although Tryon had promised to preserve both the parish Meet- 
ing House and Trinity Church. The povert}'^ of a war scourged 
country crippled the people when they reared the next edifice, 
but it was finished after many years and finally gave place to the 
more modern and elegant sanctuary dedicated in 1840. This 
latter building was ' ' caught up " by fire on the night of May 



^^sSB^ 


1- t/F^^^^f|MnHI^ 




^9 


tt^^JB| 


— '■ 'ffejjWNwWy^ r^^^^ %^' t- ''^^i^^^^H 







St. Paul's Church 



23 

29th and the morn of May 30tli, 1890. The sixth Sanctuary, 
described by Principal Fairbairn of Mansfield College, Oxford, as 
one of the most beautiful churches of America, was gratefully 
dedicated as a precious memorial of the Forefathers in Fairfield 
on May the 2nd, 1892. 

THE FAIRFIELD ACADEMY. 

The one hundredth anniversary of the founding of the Acade- 
my was celebrated by the Historical Societj^ and the Alumni of 
the school on October 28th, 1904. Although the institution has 
suspended work for several years its history is treasured by many 
people and the roll of its constituency contains many prominent 
names. 

The first trustees were Judge Jonathan Sturges, Rev. Andrew 
Eliot, Deacon David Judson, Nathan Beers, jr., and Samuel 
Rowland, Esq. The gentlemen who served on the Board in 
addition to the first named are David Allen, Dr. Heman Hum- 
phrey, Joshua Green, David Hull, Judge Roger M. Sherman, 
Ebenezer D. Dimon, General Gershom Burr, Walter Thorp, 
Jesup Wakeman, W. B. Nash, M. D., Dr. Nathaniel Hewit, Ed- 
ward Hooker, Andrew Eliot, jr.. Rev. Leonard Bacon, Rev. 
John Hunter, W. B. Jones, Abram Gould Jennings, Charles 
Bennett, Judge Thomas Osborne, O. W. Jones, Dr. Lyman At- 
water, George A. Phelps, Hon. John Gould, Henry T. Curtiss, 
Captain David M. Bunker, Moses G. Betts, John G. Morehouse, 
Rev. E. E. Rankin, D. D., Rev. L. B. Stimson, John H. Glover, 
Rev. Frederick W. Hyde, Oliver B. Jennings, Samuel Glover, 
Samuel Morehouse, Rev. J. K. Lombard, President George S. 
Burroughs, D. D., S. M. Garlick, M. D., and Benjamin Betts. 

Among the principals were Samuel Hitchcock, the eminent 
lawyer; President Humphrey of Amherst College, Governor 
Henry Dutton, Rev. Dr. EHhu Baldwin, first President of 
Marietta College; Dr. A. B. Pearce, first President of Western 
Reserve College; Dr. Daniel March, the author; Henry Day, 
one of the eminent lawyers of New York, and Morris W. Lyon 



24 

who for man}' years conducted a famous and successful prepara- 
tory school for boys in the metropolis. 

The Acadeni)' attracted generous patronage during the early 
years of its life. The multiplication of schools and the changes 
in methods of public instruction acted adversely upon the old 
academies of the land and the Fairfield institution suffered with 
schools of a kindred character. 

The Hargrove School, recently established in Fairfield, is a 
high class preparatory school, aiming to do a special work for 
students who desire individual guidance and instruction. An 
opportunity is given to do two years' class-room tasks in one 
year. The tutors take the pupils singly, devoting one, two, 
three or four hours to them as may be deemed advisable. It is 
not that the young man is crowded, but simply that there is no 
waste. He receives the master's undivided attention during the 
time set apart for his lesson. This enables a student to com- 
press into brief period work that often lags through the years. 

THE OLD BURYING GROUND. 

Southeast of the Green lies the ancient God's Acre on the 
road to the beach. This sacred place has been reverently safe- 
guarded by substantial walls over which fond vines tenderly 
climb. A beautiful stone lich-gate gives entrance to the quiet 
field. Here the earlier burials occurred. Venerable stones — 
the oldest date is 1687 — still mark some resting-places of the 
dead, but many graves remain unmarked. The later monuments 
show good state of preservation. The names of numerous 
eminent citizens, soldiers and scholars appear upon the stones. 

On May 30th, 1904, the Eunice Dennie Burr Chapter of the 
Daughters of the American Revolution dedicated a bronze tablet 
placed on the lich-gate in memory of the soldiers and patriots of 
the American Revolution whose mortal remains repose here 
beneath the greensward. 

The Burying Ground has become the Mecca of many a pious 
pilgrimage — a place suggestive of peace, honor, loyalty and 
courage. 




LiCH Gate at the Ancient Burying Ground 



25 

One of the earlier settlers and adventurers in Fairfield — An- 
drew Ward, has been recently commemorated by a chaste, stal- 
wart block of granite reared near the centre of the Ground. 
His numerous living descendants thus honor a fearless, aggres- 
sive, conspicuous pioneer and citizen almost two hundred and 
fifty years after the close of his strenuous, enterprising career. 

An interesting and remarkable inscription chiseled into the 
modest Silliman monument reads as follows : 

In memor)^ of 

Gold Selleck Silliman Esq. 

Who died in Brookl5-n, New York 

June 3, 1868 

in the 91st year of his age. 

And of 

Benjamin Silliman Iv.L.D. 

More than fifty years Professor of 

Natural Science in Yale College, 

Who died in New Haven, Connecticut 

Nove. 24, 1 86 1 

in the 86th year of his age. 

Their remains are interred in the places 

of their decease. 

Eminent in Honor, Generosity, Affection, 

Patriotism, Intellectual Culture, and Christian 

Principle. They were bound together through 

life by the strongest fraternal ties. 

They were sons of 

General Gold S. Silliman 

Who died A. D, 1790, and grandsons of 

Honorable Ebenezer Silliman 

deceased A. D. 1778; who was the son of 

Robert Silliman 

deceased A. D. 17 18, and grandson of 

Daniel Silliman deceased A. D. 1600, 

All of Fairfield. 

Their children add this to the 

record of their ancestors A. D. 1877 



26 

Mrs. Kate E. Perry, in her book entitled " The Old Burying 
Ground of Fairfield," performed a most onerous and noteworthy 
task, contributing valuable material to the literature which deals 
with life in the town. Patriotic ladies have reared the substan- 
tial walls which frame the grounds, and given very generously 
toward the adornment and preservation of the place. In the 
northeast corner of the yard the observer finds the massive brown- 
stone slabs, supported by heavy pillars, covering the graves of 
Mr. and Mrs. James Dennie, Eunice Dennie became the wife of 
Thaddeus Burr, the grandson of Chief Justice Burr. A member 
of the Town Committee on War, Deputy of the General Court, 
High Sheriff, one of the Governor's Council, a gentleman of 
large fortune and generous nature, Thaddeus Burr was a con- 
spicuous figure in the life of the colony and state. The friend of 
New England's leading statesmen and financiers, he practiced a 
princel)'' hospitality. 

His accomplished wife, in whose honor the Fairfield Chapter 
of the Daughters of the American Revolution is named, was a 
lady of rare merits and attractions. Her courage and fidelity are 
illustrated by numerous incidents. When the town was burned 
she sought to save their mansion, which was filled with treasures 
and associated with many delightful memories. She tells the 
story. "When the rabble surged into the house they shouted 
'You damned rebel, where is your husband ? ' at the same time 
stripping me of my buckles, tearing down the curtains of my 
bed, breaking the frame of my dressing-glass, pulling out the 
drawers of my table and desk. , . In the midst of this confu- 
sion Gen. Tryon came into the house. He behaved with polite- 
ness ; he demanded the papers. I told him there was none but 
of very old dates which related to the estates. The general said 
those are what we want, for we intend to have the estates. . . 
Very soon after he had taken leave of me there came in a set 
more dreadful than the ruffians who had first attacked me. These 
being informed or suspicious that I was possessed of a watch, 
attempted to search me. I drew back to the yard, the only 
shelter that I had, and there committed myself to God, . . 
They were, however, permitted to pursue me, throw me on the 




Ward Monument 



27 

ground and search me, pulling and tearing my clothes from me 
in a most barbarous manner. . ." After a spirited and well- 
sustained defence, Mrs. Burr was finally driven into her mead- 
ows, where the grief-stricken woman saw the mansion fired by 
ruthless hands and burned with its precious heirlooms to the 
ground. 

Another grave, which has special interest — lying near to those 
of Mr. and Mrs. Burr, is that of Mrs. Hall, the grand-daughter 
of Judge Peter Burr. The inscription reads as follows : 

" Here lies buried the Body of 

Mrs. Abigail Hall, 

wife of Ivyman Hall, M. A., 

Daughter of Thaddeus Burr, Esq., 

Died July 8th, 1755, aged 24 years. 

Modest, yet free, with innocence adorned; 

To please and win by Art and Nature formed; 

Benevolent and wise, in Virtue firm; 

Constant in Friendship, in Religion warm; 

A partner tender, unaffected, kind; 

A lovely Form, with a more lovely mind — 

The scene of Life, tho' short sh' improved so well, 

No charms in human forms could more excel; 

Christ's L/ife her copy, His pure I^aw her Guide: 

Each part She acted, perfected, and dy'd." 

Lyman Hall, the husband of this honored young woman, be- 
came a citizen of Georgia, was one of the Signers of the Decla- 
ration of Independence, and served as Governor of his adopted 
state. 

THE EAST CEMETERY. 

A new cemetery was needed early in the nineteenth century. 
The honored Town Clerk, Mr. Samuel Rowland, and a few of 
his contemporaries, purchased the land where the cemetery was 
established in the year 1827. An iron railing was placed around 
one of the lots, and curious people came long distances to see 
this interesting innovation. 



28 

The uew stone wall, the gate, the substantial fence, the mac- 
adam roads and the well-trimmed lawn are evidences of the 
faithful services rendered the public by two of our esteemed 
citizens. 

OAKIvAWN CEMETERY. 

This beautiful resting-place lies between Fairfield village and 
Greenfield Hill. A venerable oak — one of the most ancient in 
the country — stands facing the entrance. A rolling landscape, a 
gurgling brook, wooded retreats and the quiet waters of the bor- 
dering Mill River, suggest sweet repose. The Association was 
organized December 29th, 1865. 

THE BENSON TAVERN. 

This old hostelry is now a private house. It was built imme- 
diately after the close of the war of the American Revolution 
and occupied by General Abel. Captain Benson converted jt 
into a place of public entertainment and for many years it was a 
favorite resort of travellers, statesmen, scholars, actors and the 
people who passed back and forth between Boston and New 
York on horseback or in stagecoach. Col. Aaron Burr, Daniel 
Webster, General Jackson, the elder Booth, Macready and many 
famous men were guests of the house. Captain Benson's daugh- 
ter, the present occupant of the homestead, has in her possession 
various relics and heirlooms of value. One of the old chairs is 
known as Peter Parley's chair, his favorite when enjoying the 
hospitality^ of " mine host". 

THE POWDER HOUSE. 

The little brick structure on the elevation above the railroad 
northwest of the station served the public as a place of deposit 
for their powder during the war of 1812. The building has 
been put in order by the Eunice Dennie Burr Chapter of 
the Daughters of the American Revolution and appropriately 
marked. 




The Powder Housp: 



29 

THE RAIIvROAD AND TROLLEY. 

It made considerable change in the geography of the town 
when in 1853 the New Haven Railroad cut in twain varions 
properties and divided the shore levels from the neighboring 
hills. 

The change in certain town features was not less marked in 
1894 when the trolley invaded the main street and con 
tributed its unwelcome noise and careless disfigurement to this 
charming, famous, elm-arched, historic avenue. 

• BLACK ROCK HARBOR. 

Two harbours have served the commercial interests of Fairfield 
— Black Rock on the southeastern edge of the town and South- 
port on the southwestern. Black Rock is now included within 
the corporation of Bridgeport. During a period of more than 
two hundred years, however, it was a part of Fairfield. Here 
trade flourished and war blazed defiance. The little fort on 
Grover's Hill afforded an uncertain sense of security on various 
occasions. The quiet waters behind Fayerweather's Island in- 
vited ships to safe anchorage. The collector of the Port of Fair- 
field here exercised authority. Captains of commerce made 
their homes in this neighborhood. Fishermen, warriors, mar- 
iners, pleasure-seekers, builders of maritime industry have shared 
the life of the Port. 

During the American Revolution this harbour was the scene of 
noteworthy activity. Colonel Parsons sailed from Black Rock 
on the evening of August 14th, 1777, with a sloop and six sail- 
boats, one hundred and fifty men and a brass six-pounder in 
order to dislodge Colonel Hewlett who had fortified Bookhaven 
on Long Island. 

Black Rock was a convenient place for the men engaged in 
whale boat warfare. Captain Caleb Brewster, one of the heroes 
who won enviable fame by his victories over British craft along 
these shores, made Black Rock his home. Many an expedition 
against the enemy did he organize among his sailor friends. In 



30 

lySi he brought into the harbour a British armed boat and all her 
crew. It was on Dec. 7th, 1782, that his most desperate encour- 
ter with the enemy occurred. This was known as the "boat 
fight". On this particular morning several of the enemy's 
boats came down the Sound and Captain Brewster with his brave 
comrades intercepted them. It was a savage fight — a hand to 
hand conflict — for in twenty minutes nearly all the men engaged 
were either killed or wounded. Two boats were captured. Cap- 
tain Brewster was among the injured. He was able, however, 
to continue his work a few months later. On March 9th, 1783, 
he captured the Fox, one of the enemy's vessels. The Fairfield 
Historical Society has among its treasures an elegant silver lov- 
ing cup presented to Captain Brewster by admiring friends as an 
expression of their esteem. 

THE BEACH. 

Fairfield beach is one of the safest and most attractive along 
the shores of the Sound. To the East lies Black Rock Harbour, 
a favorite rendezvous for the fleet of whale boats during the 
American Revolution — a pleasant haven for fleets of various yacht 
clubs and diverse shipping to-day. 

Grover's Hill projects itself boldly into the sea on the west of 
the harbour. Here the Continental troops built their fort and 
kept guard as best they could over this long line of exposed and 
imperiled coast. Fort Union, which frowned on the height dur- 
ing the war of 181 2, gave a feeling of hope and courage to the 
citizens of the town. 

This emerald hill is now a beautiful private park, containing 
.several of the most elegant and expensive country residences in 
Connecticut. The views from Schoonhoven Park are superb, 
land and sea merging into a shifting panorama of beautiful and 
fascinating pictures. 

Ash Creek lies on the west of the hill, pushing back into the 
country a mile or two. In the pioneer days there were tide mills 
here, the first one being erected a considerable distance up the 
inlet. It was through Ash Creek that the British soldiers ran 




Fairfield Beach 
Grover's Hill in the distance 



31 

their boat on the night when they captured General Silliman. 

Leaving the swift flowing current of the out-going tide, the 
observer wanders down the beach until he comes to the bathing 
pavilions which have been erected by this generation of pleasure 
seekers. Here there are ample opportunities and facilities for 
the enjoyment of a swim in the sea. 

Two settlements of cottages have been formed within the past 
ten years along this shore, where several hundred visitors spend 
delightful summers. 

THE MARSHES. 

One of the charming features of the landscape which frames 
the village of Fairfield is the sinuous stretch of marshes on the 
east and south, close under the sand rifts, that make a low barri- 
cade for resisting encroachments of the sea. Pine Creek and 
Ash Creek and other tortuous inlets cut their fitful way through 
these low-lying meadows. The wealth of varied grasses, the 
occasional masses of short shrubbery and myriads of beautiful 
wild flowers mingle with the frequent glint of ebbing or flowing 
tide. Birds nest in the quiet places or sing exquisite melodies 
which float carelessly over the strange expanse. The winds play 
with the graceful, swaying tufts and plumes. Wild fowl fly low 
here, and make a trysting place. A wonderful, prolific life 
flourishes in these marshes. 

" How ample the marsh and the sea and the sky," 
"A league and a league of marsh grass, waist-high, broad in the 

blade," 
" Green, and all of a height, and unflecked with a light or a 

shade," 
"Stretch leisurely off, in a pleasant plain," 
"To the terminal blue of the main." 

PENFIELD REEF. 

This natural breakwater pushes into the Sound a distance of 
two miles or more from the bend of the beach midway between 
Grover's Hill and the Southport harbour. A considerable por- 



32 

tion of the ancient meadow land has become submerged since the 
days when little Benjamin Silliman ran away from his teacher, 
and in company with other truants came near losing his life by 
reason of the rising tide, which cut them off from the shore. 
This narrow, rocky reef — a favorite resort of the clam — haunted 
by Indians and pioneers, each in their day — has been the scene 
of various wrecks, catastrophes, perils and deaths. The light- 
house near the extreme end now warns ships when they approach 
the treacherous ledges. In wild storms the Penfield Reef Ivight 
is sometimes almost submerged by the force of the waves, and the 
keeper has been a prisoner in the place through many anxious, 
distressful nights. 

SOUTHPORT HARBOR. 

Southport Harbour, on the southwestern edge of the town, 
Sasco Hill and Rose Hill watchful over its placid waters, has 
been for generations the favored centre of large and important 
local business interests. Its fleets have engaged in lively com- 
merce with Boston, New York and the various ports of this coun- 
try and other countries. Regular lines of communication be- 
tween Southport and several shore cities flourished for years. 
A lucrative commerce and many influential men of affairs gave 
great prominence to this part of the town. Our local banks are 
situated here. The large proportion of trade and business in the 
town gravitated naturally to Southport after the burning of 
Fairfield in 1779. Homes of wealth and culture have character- 
ized the place during these years. It is the most thickly settled 
portion of the town — much has been done to adorn and beautify 
the streets — many handsome private residences impart an air of 
dignity and repose. 

The sloop which brought Colonel Aaron Burr from Boston to 
New York on his return from Europe in 18 12 lingered two days 
in Southport harbour. It was commanded by Captain Dimon, 
and there were other Fairfield men on board — distant relatives 
of the ex- Vice-President. 

It was off the shore of Norwalk Light that the ill-fated Lex- 




SouTHPORT Harbor 

A VIEW FROM THE IvAWN OF Mr. \V. H. PERRV 



33 

ington was burned in Janiiar)^, 1840. The citizens of Sonthport 
rallied and attempted to save the perishing sufferers, but swift 
havoc of fire did not wait upon any merciful tender of help. 
The sloop Merchant, owned by Sherwood & Meeker, went to the 
rescue, but only three men were saved. 

Numerous bands of Tories from Long Island committed vexa- 
tious or cruel depredations along these shores during the war 
of the American Revolution. Captain Amos Perry, one June 
evening, sailed from Southport harbor in his sloop ' ' Racer, ' ' 
with the purpose of punishing one of these bands which had besn 
specially active in the neighborhood. The following morning the 
" Racer" appeared among the enemy — apparently driven by force 
ofthe night's storm into their borders. A Tory sloop, observing 
the difficulties of the "Racer," saluted Captain Perry and pro 
ceeded to board the Connecticut vessel. When the opportune 
moment came, Captain Perr)^ stamped his foot, a goodly number 
of men concealed in the cabin suddenly swarmed upon deck, 
there was a brief hand-to-hand struggle, and the Tory sloop, with 
its crew and munitions, became the reward of the Americans' 
daring. 

During the war of 18 12 a volunteer military company was 
organized in Southport, and " Fort Defence" was built near the 
place now known as the lower wharf. 

Four ship yards have flourished here at different periods. 
Mill River, the name given to the settlement on the harbour, 
was exchanged for Southport, and a charter granted to the Bor- 
ough in 1 85 1. 

THE BURNING OF FAIRFIELD IN 1779. 

Fairfield was a special object of hatred to the British, for it 
was the home of Gen. Silliman and a goodly number of patriots, 
soldiers and statesmen. It had furnished men, supplies and in- 
spiration with unstinted generosity. It was a center of whale- 
boat warfare for the coast. It had treated Tories with a degree 
of severity. It was playing an important and conspicuous part 
in the struggle for Independence. 



34 

Tryon and the fleet arrived off shore the morning of July 7th. 
A landing in two divisions was made in the afternoon — one divi- 
sion coming over Sasco Hill, the other up Beach Lane. The 
militia on the Green and the little garrison under Lieut. Jarvis 
in the fort on Grover's Hill fired on the invaders. There was a 
babel of noises — march of troops, shrill cries of frightened chil- 
dren, wild shouts of men, the crack-crack of muskets, booming 
of cannon from the fort, hoarse notes of defiance, and finally a 
hand-to-hand fight for the possession of the Green. The British 
numbers and discipline pushed the small American troop back 
into the hill country, and night settled down upon the scene. 

But the village had been condemned, and the torch was ap- 
plied in various places. Dr. Dwight writes a graphic account of 
the conflagration in the third volume of his travels. Rev. 
Andrew Eliot, an eye-witness, describes the event in a letter to 
his brother: "About an hour before sunset the conflagration 
began at the house of Mr. Isaac Jennings. . . At sunrise 
some considerable part of the town was standing, but in about 
two hours the flames became general. The burning parties car- 
ried on their business with horrible alacrity . . all the town 
from the bridge by Col. Gold's to Mill River, a few houses ex- 
cepted, was a heap of ruins." 

" Oh, the horrors of that dreadful night," writes Mary Silli- 
man in her journal. " The sky," says Dr. Dwight, "was speed- 
ily hung with the deepest darkness wherever the clouds were 
not tinged by the melancholy lustre of the flames. . . At in- 
tervals the lightnings blazed with a livid and terrible splendor. 
The thunder rolled above. Beneath, the roaring of the fires 
filled up the intervals with a deep and hollow sound, which 
seemed to be the protracted murmur of the thunder, reverber- 
ated from one end of the heaven to another. Add to this con- 
vulsion of the elements, and these dreadful effects of vindictive 
and wanton devastation, the trembling of the earth, the sharp 
sound of musketry occasionally discharged, the groans here and 
there of the wounded and dying, and the shouts of triumph; 
then place before your eyes crowds of miserable sufferers. 




Beach Lane, up which the British marched in 1779 



35 

mingled with bodies of the militia. . . . and you will form 
a just but imperfect picture of the burning of Fairfield." 

"The distress of this poor people is inexpressible," .said Mr. 
Eliot in giving his account of the calamity. "I feel myself in a 
state of uncertainty as to the many necessities of life. ' ' 
"Could Tryon hope to quench the patriot flame," 
"Or make his deeds survive in glory's page?" 
"Could Britons seek of savages the same," 
"Or deem it conquest, thus the war to wage?" 
More than two hundred and eighteen buildings were destroyed 
by the flames. 

WASHINGTON IN FAIRFIElvD. 

Washington passed through Fairfield when he was a British 
officer twenty-four years old. Irving has drawn a picture of him 
at this period. He was en route for Boston. Nineteen 3'ears 
later he was made Commander-in-Chief of the Continental forces 
and came this way a second time en route for Boston. He arrived 
at Fairfield June 28th, 1775, where dinner was served to his 
company. Dr. Ripley of Greens Farms accompanied him through 
the parish. Washington returned this way after the campaign 
in the neighborhood of Boston, arriving at Fairfield April 12th, 
1776. 

President Wa.shington visited the town again when he made 
his famous tour of the eastern states in 1789, reaching Fairfield 
on Friday the i6th of October. His journal refers to the appear- 
ance of desolation which testified to the recent scourge of war. 
' ' The destructive evidences of British cruelty are yet visible in 
Norwalk and Fairfield," he wrote, "as there are the chimneys 
of many burnt houses standing in them yet." 

THE SUN TAVERN. 

Washington was entertained at this interesting hostelry on 
his last visit to the town. The Sun Tavern, kept by Mr. Pen- 
field, stood on the south edge of the Green. Here the citizens 
gathered to do honor to the President. He spent the night in 



36 

this place and pursued his journej' to New Haven in the morn- 
ing. 

In 1818 the property passed to Dr. Nathaniel Hewit, pastor of 
the Congregational Church, who later became the great temper- 
ance apostle of his day. Dr. Hewit married Rebecca Hillhouse, 
the daughter of Hon. James Hillhouse, United States Senator 
from Connecticut. Augustus Hewit was born in this house. 
This son of such distinguished ancestry entered the priesthood of 
the Roman Catholic Church and became an eminent preacher 
and scholar — one of the Paulist fathers and professor of Church 
History in the Catholic University at Washington, D. C. He 
was sometimes called the ' ' Newman of America ' ' . 

Dr. Lyman Atw^ater occupied the transformed "Sun Tavern" 
for some years. Later it passed through several hands and 
finalh^ became the property of Mr. Robert S. Manuel. A pri- 
vate school flourished during a brief period in the place. There 
is an air of repose and old time dignity clinging to the property 
to-day so that it is one of the attractive landmarks of our town. 

THE NAMES OF DISTINGUISHED CITIZENS. 

The leadership and services of many eminent individuals have 
been identified with the history of the town, Ludlow the 
"Father of Connecticut Jurisprudence and founder of the town" 
seems to have transmitted much of his intellectual force to the 
interesting succession of public men. The Burrs and the Goulds 
have been conspicuous through the various generations. Major 
Gold and his son Lieutenant-Governor Gold labored tirelessly 
for the benefit of town and colony. Chief Justice Burr held a 
variety of ofiices and conducted himself with such wisdom and 
acceptability that his name stands high among New England's 
worthies. Judge Ebenezer Silliman was another faithful servant 
on the bench. Soldiership was adorned by numerous brave and 
splendid sons of Fairfield, conspicuous among them being Col. 
Andrew Burr of Louisberg fame, General Silliman, Col. Gould, 
Col. Dimon, Captain Bartram, Commander Samuel Smedley, 




The Sun Tavern 



37 

Captain Thorp, Captain Caleb Brewster and a large company of 
kindred spirits. 

The five men who served as ministers for life in the Prime 
Ancient Societ}' were scholars of excellent parts and most active 
in tov/n and colonial and state affairs. Aaron Burr the Presi- 
dent of Princeton College was born in this town and spent his 
earl}' years among its beautiful hills. Dr. Caner first rector of 
Trinity Church, honored by Oxford University with the degree 
of Doctor of Divinity, one of the most eminent ministers serving 
the Church of England in the Colonies during his generation, 
gave twenty years of his life to this region. 

What sturdy, invincible and efficient champions of liberty 
were Thaddeus Burr and Jonathan Sturges — the first holding- 
office as High Sheriff and member of the Governor's War Coun- 
cil, the second serving as member of the War Committee, secre- 
tary of the Connecticut Sons of Libertj^ member of the Consti- 
tutional Convention, member of Congress and Judge of the 
Superior Court. The Rev. Samuel Sherwood wrought so 
faithfully in behalf of the colonies that a guard of Continental 
soldiers was for a time given him to protect his person. He 
lived near the border line between the old parish of Redding, 
the hotbed of Tor5asm. His son Samuel Burr Sherwood became 
one of the leading jurists of Connecticut and represented this 
district in Congress. Morris K. Jesup, merchant, banker, edu- 
cator and philanthropist, grandson of Judge Sherwood, was born 
in the western part of the old Fairfield parish (now Westport). 
Dr. Bronson surgeon in the American Army during the War of 
Independence, a friend of Washington, later a prosperous 
banker and financier, made his home on Greenfield Hill, where 
his descendants have continued to reside. On this famous hill 
Dr. Timothy D wight established his popular school to which 
pupils were drawn from many parts of the United States. While 
preaching and teaching in this place he was called to the presi- 
dency of Yale College. This hill was likewise the home of 
Governor Tomliuson who lo3ally served town and state and na- 
tion in various public offices, this service culminating in his 
election to the United States Senate. 



38 

Judge Hobart son of Rev. Noah Hobart was another Fairfield 
man elected to the United States Senate. It was as a citizen of 
New York where he had practiced law for many years that he 
was chosen to this exalted position; but preferring the career of 
a judge he declined his senatorial honors and served in the sphere 
more congenial to his taste. The Hon. Lewis Burr Sturges repre- 
sented this district in Congress for several terms. Judge Thomas 
B. Osborne who frequently represented the town in our state 
legislature, sat for two terms as a member of Congress, served as 
county judge and afterwards became Professor of Law in Yale 
College. Hon. O. S. Fej-ry spent pleasant years in Fairfield, 
and when he attained distinction as a lawj-er, member of Con- 
gress and United States Senator recalled his early days here with 
peculiar delight. 

Judge Roger M. Sherman was undoubtedly the most eminent 
and conspicuous citizen of the town belonging to the later gen- 
erations. A modest and reserved person, he preferred the quiet 
of his study and the society of his cultivated neighbors rather 
than the publicity of leadership and the burdens of ofl&cial posi- 
tion. Senator Hoar has described him as one of the greatest 
men of New England, the peer of Webster and Mason. Although 
av'crse to public office, he gave himself to such labor as his con- 
stituents put upon him — going repeatedly , to the Assembly and 
State Senate, and serving later as Judge of the Supreme Court 
of the state. He was earnestly supported by friends as a candi- 
date for United States Senator, to which position he would 
probably have been elected had he been willing to yield certain 
points. A member at the Hartford Convention in 1814 and one 
of the committee to draw up a report to be presented 
to the respective State Legislatures he declared on oath 
that " Its principal object was a more effectual co-operation in 
the war as to the defence of the New England states. There is 
not the slightest foundation for impunging the motives of these 
men, or stamping the proceedings of the convention as treasona- 
ble. The delegates never contemplated an act inconsistent with 
their obligations to the United States." 




Sherman Parsonage 



39 

Several of the clergymen settled in the town during the nine- 
teenth centur}- attained national distinction as preachers, authors, 
educators and men of affairs. 

The Hon. Oliver H. Perry was for years one of the most 
influential men of the state, serving as Representative, Senator, 
Secretary of State, and Speaker of the House of Representatives 
of Connecticut, in which order of public service he has been suc- 
ceeded by his son Hon. John H. Perry, a member of the House 
of Representatives, Speaker, Judge of the Court of Common 
Pleas and First Vice President of the Constitutional Convention 
of 1902. 

The present member of Congress from this district, Hon. E. J. 
Hill, comes of Fairfield ancestors, several of his forefathers 
being among the early settlers of the town. This strong tie of 
pioneer ancestry links to the town many great names, for the old 
families sent their children into all states and territories multi- 
plying the names of Hill, Burr, Cable, Banks, Gray, Jennings, 
Barlow, Dickinson, Frost, Green, Jesup, Hoyt , Morehouse, 
Hawkins, Newton, Pinkney, Nichols, Sherwood, Taintor, 
Staples, Wilson, Bennett, Jones, Bulkley, Wheeler, Lockwood, 
Turney, Johnson, Perry, Adams, Andrews, Baldwin, Coley, 
Dimon, Goodwin, Drake, Ford, Hall, Allen, Hull, Knapp, Hide, 
Beardsley, Osborn, Rowland, Seeley , Smith, Beers, Churchill, 
Mayo, Clapham, Nettleton, Palmer, Sturges, Pell, White, Bar- 
num. Meeker, Bradley, Hubbell, James, Norton, Wakeman, Sil- 
limau, Ogden, Read, Robinson, Sanford, Rumsey, Taylor and 
other familiar names. 

The forceful personality of Judge Jonathan Sturges has re- 
appeared in several eminent descendants who have attained 
wide distinction as successful men of affairs, scholars, writers 
and public servants. A grandson bearing the same name be- 
came one of the leading merchants of the last century in New 
York, a generous patron of art, a builder and manager of rail- 
roads, (President of the Illinois Central R. R.) and a large 
benefactor to churches, missionary societies, hospitals and other 
important institutions. This tradition of splendid service has 



40 

been passed down to members of the present generation who 
continue to adorn the town and enrich both country and city 
with innumerable benafactions. 

Mr. Joseph E. ShejB&eld, for whom the Scientific School of 
Yale University is named, was born in this town. A prosperous 
merchant, one of the men concerned in the organization of the 
New York and New Haven Railroad and the Rock Island and 
Chicago road, he amassed a large fortune, giving to Yale College 
and other institutions more than $1,000,000. 

Thomas F. Rowland who built the celebrated Monitor — the 
boat which changed the destiny of a nation — was a son of Fair- 
field ancestors and spent many days as a youth in this place. 

The name Marquand has been associated with the town 
since the first Henry settled in the homestead on land now own- 
ed by the Memorial Library. This was in 1768. The name to- 
day is widely honored as one suggestive of splendid generosity 
and devotion to education. Frederick Marquand was a native 
of Fairfield and like so many other energetic sons of the town 
became a New York business man. A portion of the wealth 
which he gathered by a successful career was given into charge 
of Mrs. Elbert B. Munroe of Southport, Mr. Henry C. Mar- 
quand, Mrs, Alanson Trask of New York and Mr. D. C. McWil- 
liams of Brooklyn. This property — managed with great wis- 
dom and fidelity increased to such an extent that between three 
and four millions of dollars have been distributed by them to 
schools, libraries, seminaries, colleges. Young Men's Christian 
Associations, Churches and other important institutions, Henry 
C. Marquand the brother became a munificent patron of art, 
.serving as President of the Metropolitan Museum of Art — a posi- 
tion which he filled to such purpose that he put the whole 
country under obligations. In this connection it is pleasant to 
note that his successor in the place, Mr. J. Pierpont Morgan, had 
intimate relations with Fairfield earlj'' in life and married a lady 
whose summer home was in this place and whose ancestors were 
for many generations identified with the history of town and col- 
ony. And it is also worthy of note that the late President of 
the Metropolitan Museum of Natural History and one of its 




Arching Elms 



41 

g:reatest benefactors was born in the western part of old Fairfield 
parish and that his successor as President — Professor Henrj- 
Fairfield Osborn, is likewise a native of this town. 

A large number of prosperous and enterprising men have been 
contributed to the world by Fairfield. For generations it was a 
town well known for its adventurous sea captains — their ships 
sailing to all ports — their trade a large factor in the life of New 
England. How familiar are the names repeated many times in 
various generations — Captain Bartram, Captain Jennings, Cap- 
tain Burr, Captain Wakeman, Captain Sherwood. Many of 
these men retired with a competency or with wealth and spent 
their last days in old homesteads which were filled with treasures 
gathered from the four quarters of the earth. And the town 
has been rich in men who shared the characteristic active im- 
pulse of the typical tradesman and manufacturer— men like O. 
W. Jones and Henry Rowland whose names are associated with 
the flouring mills in New York, and John San ford, one of the 
leading industrial masters of his day, whose sole living descend- 
ant, J. Sanford Saltus, of New York, has testified his affection 
for the town by various benefactions. 

Mr. Henry Dexter, a generous friend and member of the New 
York Historical Society, contributed the new hall in honor and 
memory of his son, Orrando Perry, a descendant of an esteemed 
Fairfield family. The organizer and builder of the American 
News Company, Mr. Dexter has manifested special interest in 
the perpetuation of local history, sharing the upbuilding of the 
Fairfield Historical Society, and enricViing it with numerous and 
valuable gifts. 

A VILLAGE OF PLEASANT HOMES. 

Previous to the American Revolution considerable business 
was done in Fairfield but during the period following that event, 
it was known as a place of homes, a quiet, lovely town rich in 
men and women of character — an old fashioned, ideal, colonial 
town abounding in good society and intellectual life. Business 
was transacted in Bridgeport, New Flaven, Norwalk or New 



'12 

York by the citizens of the place. Fairfield invited them to rest. 
General Parker the Indian chief and soldier who served on the 
staff of General Grant naturally sought Fairfield as a good place 
for a home. When the President of the Wheeler and Wilson- 
Sewing Machine Company returned east, he made his home in 
Fairfield and it was one of the interesting incidents connected 
with his home-making here for Mr. Samuel H. Wheeler to discover 
that he had settled upon the very property which his ancestors 
had owned and occupied more than two hundred years ago. 

THE INTEIvLECTUAIv ATMOSPHERE. 

The strong, rich life of the town has manifested itself not only 
in the men who have commanded ships, built up great enter- 
prises, shone as statesmen, attained eminence as teachers, phil- 
anthropists, soldiers and preachers. A large and worth}^ com- 
pany of writers have here served their day and generation. Lud- 
low's Code — the published sermons of early ministers — the six 
deliverances of Noah Hobart, the doughty controversialist, books 
which are filled with the learning and passion of a powerful 
Colonial leader — these are part of New England history. Joel 
Barlow's ancestors gave the name to Barlow's plain, a portion of 
l^'airfield ; and the ambitious, witty, buoyant Joel himself haunted 
the streets of the town, wrote poetry here, studied law, and was 
admitted to the Bar in Fairfield. His friend the poet, David 
Humphreys, became a familiar figure in the town, and wrote the 
elegy on the Burning of Fairfield. Timothy Dwight in his poem 
entitled "Greenfield Hill," likewise sings his lament over the de- 
struction of the village. Dr. Sereno Dwight, President of Ham- 
ilton College, author of the Biography of Timothy Dwight, and 
numerous other works, was born in Fairfield. Professor Benja- 
min Silliman, whom Edward Everett called the Nestor of Ameri- 
can Science, spent childhood and youth in the town of his fore- 
fathers, gathering strength of bodj' and mind for his arduous in- 
tellectual tasks. Dr. Atwater, Dr. Lord and Dr. March were all 
writers of books, some of which attained a wide popularity in 




A Colonial House on the Green 



43 

their day. The Rev. Dr. Samuel Osgood, who made his home 
at "Waldstein," in this town was actively engaged for many 
years in literary pursuits in addition to pastoral duties. His 
daughter, Mabel Osgood Wright, the present owner of "Wald- 
stein," has published seventeen volumns of nature studies and 
fiction. 

A goodly company of literary folk, numbering nearly two 
score, is intimately associated with the old town. These writers 
cover a wide field of activity in the one hundred and forty vol- 
umns or mxore which they have published. Innumerable pam- 
phlets, sermons, addresses, lectures, papers, reports and similar 
articles must be added to this collection. These various authors 
W' rote books on theology, horticulture, law, natural history, poli- 
tics, logic. One writer describes his travels at home and abroad 
— another writer, Professor Silliman, puts into ten volumes the 
results of long and fruitful scientific research — a third, President ' 
D wight, combines religion, travel, education, poetry, history, 
showing a delightful versatility of mind. There is hardly a de- 
partment of American literature that has not been enriched at 
one time or another by some of these workmen. 

HISTORIC SITES, 

A committee appointed by the Historical Societ}^ has recentl}' 
marked certain interesting historic sites. As the village was 
burned by the British in 1779 the number of buildings which 
escaped destruction can be counted on the fingers of two hands. 
But vv^hen the Andrew Ward monument was dedicated twelve 
markers indicated sites which had particular interest: 

(i) Oldest House now^ standing in Fairfield — 1720, propert}- 
of Mrs. Josephine Brown. (2) First Mill — by .side of the 
inlet near the residence of Mr. Oliver Turney. (3) Homestead 
lyOt of Roger Ludlow — corner place on Main Street and Benson 
Avenue. (4) Homestead L,ot of William Ward, embracing the 
residence property of Miss Annie B. Jennings and Mr. Samuel 
H. Wheeler. (5) Andrew Ward's Main Street House, adjoin- 
ing Sherman Parsonage. (6) Site of First Meeting Hou.se, 1644. 
(7) Burr Homestead, Main Street, occupied by Jehu Burr 1649, 



44 

and Thaddeus Burr, 1759. (8) Trinity Church — second edi- 
fice, 1738. (7) Philip Pinckney's Lot — 1653. (^o) King's High- 
way — 1755. (11) Homestead of Henry Marquand — 1768. (12) 
First site of Trinity Church — 1725. 

NOTEWORTHY HOUSES. 

The six colonial houses now standing in the village — the Tur- 
ney house a few rods east of the first mill site, the tvvo Hobart 
houses on the Green, the two Judson houses on Beach Lane and 
the Redfield house on Mill Plain — are the last reminders of early 
simplicity in building. 

THE BURR MANSION. 

The stately Burr mansion, standing on the site of the former 
hospitable home belonging to the High Sheriff, (Main Street, 
west of the Academy), seems to take us back into pre-revolu- 
tionary days, for Mr. Burr rebuilt immediately after the war and 
his friend John Hancock assisted him. It was in the old house 
that Mrs. Thomas Hancock and Dorothy Quincy tarried a good 
part of the year when Boston was besieged and affairs in that 
neighborhood were in an unsettled state. Here Mrs. Hancock 
died only three days after Washington's third visit to Fairfield. 
Her body lies in the ancient Burying Ground, a stone placed at 
the head of her grave testifying to the curious fact that Thad- 
deus Burr put it there at his own expense, although Mrs. Han- 
cock was a woman of fortune and this fortune is said to have 
been given to her husband's nephew, the Honorable John Han- 
cock. It was in the old Burr house that Dorothy Quincy often 
met Col. Aaron Burr, greatly to the annoyance of her fiance, 
and the watchful aunt into whose charge she had been given. It 
was also in the old mansion that the President of the Continental 
Congress and Dorothy Quincy were united in wedlock — a gay 
occasion for Fairfield when the terrors of war were forgotten for 
an hour and the town gave itself up to festivity. 

A letter written by Thaddeus Burr to a Philadelphia friend 




The Burr Mansion 



45 

and preserved in the Emmet Collectiou, now owned by the New 
York Public Library, refers to the presence of General Lafayette 
in Fairfield. It is dated the last Sunday of August, 1778 : " The 
latest accounts we have from Rhode Island are Friday evening 
last by the Marquis De La Fayette, aid-de-camp, who arrived at 
my house on Sunday evening on the way to General Washing- 
ton, He informed me that the determination there was to hold 
the ground we had got. That General Hancock had gone to Bos- 
ton to make provision for marching the French troops from there 
to Rhode Island. That the Marquis was to set out for Boston on 
Friday to take command of the troops. That it was agreed that all 
the French fleet which were in a condition to put to sea were 
immediately to return to Rhode Island. ." 

One of John Hancock's love letters to his fiancee tarrying at 
Thaddeus Burr's shows that the President of the Continental 
Congress did not give all his time to public duties : 

"My Dr. Dolly, — I am almost prevail'd on to think that my let- 
ters to my Aunt and you are not read, for I cannot obtain a reply. 
I have ask'd a million questions and not an an.swer to one. I 
beg'd you to let me know what things my Aunt wanted and you, 
and many other matters I wanted to know, but not one word in 
answer. I Really Take it extreme unkind. Pray my Dr. use 
not so much Ceremony and Reservedness. Why can't you use 
freedom in writing. Be not afraid of me. I want Long Letters. 
Why did you not write me of the top of the Umbrella. I am 
sorry it was spoiled, but I will send you another by Express 
wch will go down in a few days. How did my Aunt like her 
gown and do let me know if the Stockings suited her ; she had 
better send a pattern shoe and stocking. I warrant I will suit 
her. . . I Beg, my Dear Dolly, you will write me often and 
Long Letters. I will forgive the past if you will mend in future. 
Do ask my Aunt to make me up and send me a Watch String and do 
you make up another and send me. I wear them out fast. I 
want some little thing of your doing. Remember to all Friends 
with you as if nam'd. I am call'd upon and must obey. I have 
sent you by Doer Church in a paper Box Directed to you, the 



46 

following things for your acceptance, and which I do insist you 
wear. If you do not I shall think the Donor is the objection : — 
2 pair white silk stockings which 

4 pr. white thread I think will fit you 

I pr. Black Satin shoes, the other 

I pr. Black Calem Co Shall be sent when done. 
I very pretty light Hat 

1 neat Airy Summer Cloak. (I ask Doer. Church) 

2 caps 

I Fann 

I wish these may please you. I shall be gratified if they do, 
I will attend all your Commands. 

Adieu my Dr. Girl, and believe me to be with great Esteem and 
Affection. 

Yours without Reserve, 

John Hancock. 

Remember me to Katy Brackett." 

Dr. Church, by whose hand this letter was brought to Doro- 
thy Q. , was shortly after expelled from the Massachusetts 
Assembly, being accused of treason. Confined in prison for some 
months he was finally permitted to sail for the West Indies. The 
vessel and all on board were lost. 

The Burr homestead now called " Garden Court," is the coun- 
tr}^ seat of Mr. A. Holland Forbes. 

THE SIIvLIMAN HOME. 

The Silliman home on Holland Hill was the center of a gener- 
ous and abundant life. General Silliman, a man of large affairs 
and varied interests, entertained in true colonial style — his home, 
the frequent stopping place for distinguished travelers and a 
favorite rendezvous for the lively company of young gallants and 
charming girls, thronging the town. Mrs. Silliman, in whose 
honor the Bridgeport Chapter of the Daughters of the American 
Revolution is named, was a woman of fine culture and beautiful 
spirit. Her journal, giving an account of the burning of Fair- 
field, the sudden migration of her family to Unity (Trumbull) 




A Garden View of Sherman Parsonage 



47 

where Benjamin was born, is a precious and illuminating narra- 
tive. Prof. Fisher quotes freely from it in his biography of Prof. 
Silliman. The old house on the hill remains in good state of 
])reservation. 

In a brief sketch Prof. Silliman describes the capture of his 
father by the British on the night of May ist, 1779. " Between 
twelve and one o'clock a. m. the house was violently assaulted 
by large heavy stones banging against both doors, with oaths, 
imprecations and threats. My father being awaked from a sound 
sleep, seized two loaded guns standing at his bedside, rushed to 
tlie front windows, and by the light of the moon seeing armed 
men on the stoop or portico, he thrust the muzzle of a musket 
through a pane of glass and pulled the trigger, but there was 
only a flash in the pan and the gun did not go off. . . In- 
stantly the windows were dashed in and the ruffians were upon 
him. . . and he became their prisoner. William, his son, 
although ill with ague and fever, was aroused from his bed and 
became also their captive. These rude men, bearing guns vv'ith 
fixed bayonets, followed my father into the bedroom, a terrific 
sight to his wife, .she being in bed with her little son. . . The 
invaders were soothed b}^ my father as if they were gentlemen 
soldiers and were desired to withdraw from the presence of his 
wife. They sulkily complied, and my father, by tossing mj^ 
mother's dress over a basket containnig the sacramental silver of 
the Church of which he was deacon, thus concealed from them 
what would have been a rich prize." The tvv^o captives were 
hurried down to the whale boat, which lay hidden on the shore 
of Ash Creek, and carried across the Sound. The following year 
he returned to his home through an exchange of prisoners. 

SHERMAN PARvSONAGE. 

Sherman Parsonage (the house with sixt\' closets) was built 
by Judge Roger M. Sherman, a nephew of Roger Sherman, 
signer of the Declaration of Independence. The Judge purchased 
some eight acres of land in the square w^hich had been occupied 
by Governor Roger lyudlow. Deputy Andrew Ward, Major Na- 



48 

than Gold, Goodman Staples (whose wife was accused of witch- 
craft) and other Fairfield worthies. He erected an ample, colo- 
nial mansion — one of the most dignified and expensive in this 
part of the State. Here many eminent scholars, statesmen and 
public servants were entertained and a generous hospitality be- 
came the characteristic of this beautiful home. The distinctive 
feature of the mansion, however, was the multiplicity and 
arrangement of the closets. Mrs. Sherman' s beneficence extended 
to a wide circle of friends and dependents. The closets scattered 
through the house contained not only the private effects of the 
family, but large stores of goods — flannels, linen, cloths, jellies, 
preserved fruits, garments and similar stuff — which were freely 
distributed to people in need. When Judge and Mrs. Sherman 
passed away they bequeathed the place to the Prime Ancient 
Society for a parsonage. It has been occupied successively by 
Dr. Atwater, Dr. Lord, Dr. McLean, Dr. Rankin, Dr. Burroughs, 
Dr. Bushnell and the present minister. 

The portraits of Judge and Mrs. Sherman, the fine workman- 
ship of the artist Jocelyn, hang on the wall of the ea.st drawing- 
room. The Judge's private library is preserved intact and rests 
behind glass cases in the old study of the east wing. Many of 
the books are presentation copies containing autographs of Judge 
Sherman's distinguished friends. One case holds various inter- 
esting papers, manuscripts, journals, account books, letters and 
other valuable historical matter. 

Sherman Parsonage is an attractive, old-fashioned mansion, 
intimately associated with the best life of the town during the 
past century. 

THE GOULD HOMESTEAD. 

Fairfield has long been distinguished for its pleasant, unpre- 
tentious homes. The conservative character of old residents 
expresses itself in houses that are commodious and comfortable 
standing amid well-kept lawns, which reach down to large, beau- 
tiful gardens. Velvet turf, graceful shrubbery, trim hedges, 




Pulpit Rock 



49 

flower-bordered walks, magnificent shade trees — these adorn- 
ments impart dignity and loveliness to the town. 

The Gould homestead is one of the conspicuous places on the 
eastern edge of the town. The dignified mansion sits on a slight 
elevation and makes a pleasant impression upon the traveler 
passing along the King's Highway. For many generations the 
Goulds have had possession of property in this section of the 
town. Abraham Gould, however, son of Col. Abraham Gould, 
moved to Roxbury, N. Y., the latter part of the eighteenth cen- 
tury. The family traditions concerning active life and natural 
leadership have been vindicated in the successful business career 
of Jay Gould, great grandson of Col. Gould, and other prominent 
workers bearing the name. The house which invites attention 
was built by Hon. John Gould, an eminent and respected sou of 
the old stock — Captain, Member of Assembly, State Senator, 
Railroad Commissioner and U. vS. Marshall for tlie State of Con- 
necticut. 

WALDSTKIN. 

On a rise of ground north of the railroad station the observer 
notes the shaded seclusion of Waldstein. Fifty years ago Dr. 
Osgood purchased the rugged, cedar-covered tract, .which to-da)' 
is a quiet, lovely, rural retreat, suggestive of a close friendship 
with nature and the spirit of poesy. Winding walks, shady 
nooks, rocks which bear the names of patriots, authors and 
artists, summer houses, a lily pool, and an old-fashioned flower 
garden with its sundials, enhance the charm of the place. As 
people pass along the street they notice a deep cut inscription on 
the bold rock which juts upon the sidewalk: "God and Our 
Country, 1862." This date was put there to commemorate pa- 
triotic and religious services held during the shock and heat of 
the Civil War that fateful summer when the rustic house, which 
tops the rock, was used as a pulpit, while the street below and the 
field across the way became an audience room where the hun- 
dreds gathered and gave rapt heed to the eloquent message 
which fell from the lips of the preacher. The man who cut the 
inscription enlisted and served his term in the war. 



50 

THE ROWLAND HOMESTEAD. 

The Rowland Homestead, which stands near the site of the 
famous Marine Hotel and the second edifice of Trinity Church, 
has an air of amplitude and hospitality most delightful. Its gen- 
erous lawns and old fashioned gardens, its noble shade trees and 
lovely vistas of the sea impart unforgetable charm. It was from 
the spire of the adjoining church that little Samuel Rowland, 
aged ten, saw the approach of the British marching up Beach 
Lane on a July afternoon, 1779. "Make haste, you young rascal, 
and get away," shouted one of the neighbors, who had climbed to 
the lookout that he might observe the enemy. An old chest dis- 
covered in the attic of the Rowland Homestead recently contained 
various important ancient documents and some portion of the old 
town records. The lad who braved the excitement of the hour 
in 1779 and watched the progress of the foe pushing along toward 
the Green, became one of Fairfield's efficient and honored ser- 
vants in later years, holding various ofiices, among them that of 
Town Clerk during a period extending over forty years. It was 
the name of this lad's father, Mr. Andrew Rowland, one of the 
Committee of Correspondence, which was appended to the sheet 
announcing the battle of Lexington and forwarded to New York, 
the other Fairfield names being Jonathan Sturges, Thaddeus 
Burr and Job Bartram. 

ROUND HILL. 

Fairfield is diversified by numerous hills, the prospects from 
whose summits extend many miles over sea and land. Round 
Hill, which has been converted into a beautiful park by Mr. 
Frederick Sturges. is an objective point for all lovers of fine 
scenery. It was an old signal station during the ages of the In- 
dians' sway. Fires often blazed their warning messages from its 
vantage point. Keen eyes at night may see a dozen beacons off 
in the Sound shining their cheer and help from the lighthouses 
placed along our shores. 



51 

MAILANDS. 

Osborn Hill is crowned with the commodious country seat of 
Mr. Oliver G. Jennings. This large stone mansion with its com- 
manding tower, broad facades, lofty-pointed roofs and ample 
porticoes is the noteworthy feature of the landscape as the traveler 
passes up and down the country. The estate covers many acres 
of field and forest, upland and lowland, wide spread lawn and 
elaborate gardens — one of the loveliest and most attractive places 
on the sea coast of New England. 

There is a tradition that the hill was once the abode of a rabid 
Tory whose bitter hatred and offensive conduct aroused the sus- 
picion and alarm of the neighboring patriots. After the war he 
was said to have disappeared raysteriousl}'. The hill was another 
favorite resort of savage tribes and might tell strange tales of 
Indian rites, customs and conflicts. 

GREENFIELD HILL. 

Greenfield Hill lies to the northwest, the white slender spire of 
the Congregational Church making a landmark most useful to 
men on the sea and adding its touch of beauty and repose to the 
scene. It was from the spire of the meeting house on Greenfield 
Hill that Major Tallmadge often watched the movements of 
British ships and directed some of his secret service work done as 
one of Washington's trusted agents. 

VERNA FARM. 

The conspicuous and substantial red brick mansion which 
shines amid its environment of charming fields and noble trees is 
the Bronson home. Verna Farm is an estate of broad acres and 
commanding situation, long associated with an honored famih'. 
Mrs. Bronson and her daughter, Mrs. Griscom, wife of the 
American Ambassador to Italy, reside at the Embassy in Rome. 
Mr. J. Kelly Robinson, a prominent financier and capitalist of 
New York, made his country home at Verna Farm for several 
years before his recent death. 

The mansion stands on ground which was once the homestead 
property of Dr. Timothy Dwight. 



52 

HOIvI^AND HEIGHTS. 

Holland Hill or Heights is intimately associated with the his- 
tory of the Silliraan family. Here the Rev. Andrew Eliot fled 
when driven from Fairfield after the burning of the town. When 
Mrs. Silliman returned to her home on the withdrawing of the 
enemy she writes that she found it ' ' full of distressed people 
whose houses had been burned, and our friend, Captain Bartram, 
lay there a wounded man." There were eleven slaves in the 
Silliman family and the pastor of the parish was the owner of 
two. Many of these colored people disappeared during the war. 
They were kindly treated by their masters, but the fortunes of 
war made great changes in the customs of the people. It is said 
to the credit of these Connecticut slaves that many of them 
fought in the War of the Revolution and stood loyally with 
the patriots receiving afterward their due reward. 

Mlhh HILIv. 

Mill Hill is another point of vantage overlooking the sea. 
Lovely homes adorn its broad acres. A daily panorama unrolls 
before the fortunate dwellers here as they gaze upon the multi- 
tude of ships which pass up and down the generous waterway. 

SASCO HILL. 

The harbour at Southport is guarded on the east by Sasco 
Hill, a piece of headland projecting boldly into the sea. This 
elevated, attractive portion of goodly acres includes another 
region of homes where the skill and devotion of men vie with 
nature in making the landscape beautiful. 

GROVER'S HILL. 

The hill which lies near to the extreme east of the old Fairfield 
Parish has already been described as the location of a fort during 
the war of the American Revolution and the war of 1812. 
Schoonhoven Park, which now embraces the modest eminence 




The Southport Congregational Church 



53 

once associated with war, secret service and traditions of adven- 
ture, has become a quiet, lovely retreat graced by lovely homes, 
around which cluster man}' pleasant associations. 

WITCH HIIvIv. 

There are legends of a Witch Hill, the elevation on which the 
poor woman convicted of witchcraft in 1653 was hanged. It has 
been a difficult matter to identify this place. The little hill 
which slopes down to Ash Creek is sometimes pointed out as the 
historic spot. ' ' I hav^e been fished withal in private more than 
you are aware of," said the forlorn sufferer, as she was taken to 
the gibbet, " but I must not return evil for evil." When death 
came and the body was lowered affrighted women searched for 
witch marks and according to oft repeated stories detected these 
telltale witnesses. ' ' Never, never, was a poor creature tempted 
as I am tempted. Pray, pray for me !" These words rang in 
the public ear for many a sad day. 

STURGES HOMESTEAD 

The residence of Judge Jonathan Sturges occupied the site cf 
his ancestor, the first John Sturges in town, situated opposite the 
present St. Thomas Church. It was in this house (which was 
burned in 1779) that Paul Revere spent the night when on his 
way from Boston to New York with despatches for General 
Washington. Jonathan Sturges, the grandson, purchased the 
estate on Mill Plain, now owned by his son, Henry C. Sturges, 
Esq., and erected a Gothic cottage, employing a famous land- 
scape gardener to lay out the grounds. It became one of the 
famous popular sights in Connecticut, numerous visitors travel- 
ing to Fairfield in order to see the rare, fine work which had 
been done by this pioneer artist in landscapes. 



^^J- 



CHURCHES. 

THE CHURCH OF CHRIST, First Congregational Church— 1639. 
Rev. Frank S. Chii.d, D. D., Pastor. 

The parish of the Prime Ancient Society originally embraced 
the Entire town of Fairfield whose boundaries were Stratford on 
the east, Redding on the north, Norwalk on the west and Long 
Island Sound on the south. The Established Religion of Con- 
necticut was Congregationalism until the adoption of the New 
State Constitution in the year 181 8. During this period the 
Church was supported by taxation like other State Churches. 
An historical tablet, designed by Tiffany and containing the 
names of the ministers and the dates of their pastorates, has been 
recently placed in the vestibule of the Church, a gift of Miss 
Jennings. 

TRINITY CHURCH— 1724. 

REV. Edmund Guii^bert, D.D., Rector. 

The first Church edifice was erected in 1725 on Mill Plain. In 
1738 a second edifice was reared near the center of the village 
"on the highway near the old Fields Gate." This house of 
worship was burned by the British in 1779. The third structure 
was built on the Green at Mill Plain and dedicated on the 5th o^ 
September, 1790. The fourth edifice to serve the members of 
Trinity Parish was erected in Southport, situated a mile or more 
from Mill Plain. The congregation continues to worship in this 
dignified, commodious house of God. 

CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF GREENFIELD HILI^-i725- 
REV. Edgar H. Olmstead, Pastor. 

This is the third parish set off from the Prime Ancient Society. 
The chaste, old-fashioned Meeting-house, the fourth edifice 
placed in the midst of the little Green on the hill, stands as one 




Trinity Church 



55 

of the historic aud conspicuous landmarks for all this region. It 
was from this point of vantage and the spire of the second edifice 
that Major Tallmadge, one of Washington's aids who had charge 
"of a particular part of his private correspondence," observed 
the movements of the enemy along the Sound. 

BAPTIST CHURCH OF STRATFIELD— 1761. 
REV. William Swanson, Pastor. 

The sanctuary crowns a little hill which divides the highwaj^ 
leading from Bridgeport to Easton. Although situated on the 
edge of our neighboring city, this is essentially a rural parish 
with the traditions and customs of the olden days. 

CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF SOUTH PORT— 1843. 
Rev. William H. Holman, Pastor 

This Church — one of the various offshoots of the Prime 
Ancient Society — was organized in 1843. The members of the 
congregation worship in the second edifice whiph they have 
reared. The beautiful granite structure, dedicated February 
2nd, 1876, makes a generous contribution to the noteworthy 
attractiveness of the town. 

ST. PAUL'S CHURCH— 1856. 
Rev. Allen E. Beeman, Archdeacon of Fairfield County, Rector 

This parish was organized some twenty years after Trinity 
Church removed from Mill Plain to Southport. The shapely 
edifice in which its members worship has been transformed by 
the grace of luxuriant vines into a temple of beauty, adding 
charm to a street and neighborhood called unique in loveliness 
among New England villages. 

METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH OF SOUTHPORT— 1860. 
Rev. E. F. Lounsbury, Pastor. 

The present edifice is the second one built by this society. It 
is a symmetrical brick structure pleasantly located on Pequot 
avenue and was dedicated in 1898. 



56 

ST. THOMAS CHURCH (Roman Catholic.) 

Rev. Thomas J. Coleman, Rector. 

The first edifice erected by this congregation was destroyed by 
fire together with the adjoining rectory and school building in 
the winter of 1892. The present edifice was erected during the 
year 1893. It is a commodious structure built of red brick — an 
adornment to the town. A large congregation is serv'ed by the 
Church, the parish embracing territory extending from Bridge- 
port to Westport and far back in the hill country. 

FAIRFIELD EAST PARISH. 

In 1690 thirty-three taxpayers of Fairfield and thirteen from 
Stratford asked the General Court of Connecticut to be exempted 
from paying minister's rates to these resjective parishes. Four 
year later the Court gave these people permission to organize a 
Church. The Meeting-house was erected on what is now called 
Park Avenue, half the site being acquired from Fairfield and half 
from Stratford. This first offshoot of the parent stock is known 
as the First or North Church of Bridgeport. 

WEST PARISH OF FAIRFIELD. 

People of the West Parish of Fairfield received permission of 
the General Assembly to embody themselves in a Church estate 
in 171 1. This was the second withdrawal of members from the 
parent Fairfield Parish in order to form a new Church. The 
Green's Farms section of the town united with contiguous terri- 
tory on the west and north to form the town of Westport. 

Dr. Ripley was the honored pastor of this Church from 1766-7 
to 1 82 1, a learned, distinguished and patriotic minister. Chan- 
cellor Kent of New York, referring to this honored friend, tells 
how "the British incendiaries on the morning of the 8th of July 
swept over the village of Green's Farms and destroyed all the 
houses for near a mile in succession ; among others the house 
where I had slept on the Tuesday evening preceding, and the 
house of the Rev. Dr. Ripley, and the Meeting-house in which 




St. Thomas's Church 



57 

that excellent man used to preach." In some reminiscences Dr. 
Ripley mentions the fact that he accompanied General Washing- 
ton to Fairfield when he passed that way to assume command of 
the American Army at Boston. The General and his companion 
alighted at Bulkley's Inn on the Fairfield Green. While they 
were standing in front of the tavern, waiting for their horses, 
Washington conversed with Dr. Ripley on public affairs and 
passing his finger through the buttonhole of the minister's coat 
said that if the Americans could prolong the contest for one year 
he believed they would ultimately succeed, because in that time 
arms and ammunition could be obtained and they would be 
invincible. 

FAIRFIEIvD FRESH AIR HOME. 

President 
Franks. Child, D.D. 

Vice-President 
W. H. Donaldson, M.D. 

Secretary and Treasurer 
Amory E. Rowland, Esq. 

This beneficent institution has co-operated for seventeen years 
with the Tribune Fresh Air Fund in giving happy vacations to 
the children of poverty in New York. Nearly two thousand lit- 
tle girls have enjoyed its hospitality and inspiration. It is sup- 
ported by the free gifts of many friends. A handsome and com- 
modious house was built by popular subscription for the Associa- 
tion during the winter and spring of 1906. 

A pleasant beach house near the sea makes a rendezvous for 
the children when they play in the sand or bathe in the salt 
water. This beautiful charity has brought much brightness and 
healthful cheer into hundreds of narrow, pinched, desolate homes. 

The Home was transformed into a Convalescent Hospital in the 
autumn of 1898 and filled with sick soldiers returned from the 
Spanish- American War. 



58 

THE CONVALESCENT HOSPITAL. 

Finance Committee 
Rev. Frank S. Child Miss Annie B. Jennings 

Oliver G. Jennings Mrs. E. L. Wells 

Amory E. Rowland Mrs. William B. Glover 

Committee on Supplies 
Rev. Allen E. Beeman Mrs. Henry S. Glover 

Rev. T. J. Coleman Mrs. Henry T. Bulkley 

Ward Committee 
W. H. Donaldson, M.D. Mrs. James O. Wright 

S. M. Garlick, M.D. Mrs. Henry C. Sturges 

AMERICAN NATIONAL RED CROSS— Fairfield Branch. 

President 
Hon. John H. Perry 

Secretary 
Mrs. G. B. Bunnell 

TrEAvSURER 
Miss Mary B. Kippen 

During the Spanish-American War the Red Cross Society was 
tireless in its efforts to aid the sick and wounded among our sol- 
diers. Large contributions of money and supplies were forwarded 
through the National Society to places of need. When the con- 
valescent soldiers sent over from the camp at Montauk Point 
were received into our Fresh Air Home the Fairfield Auxiliary 
redoubled its energies and rendered all needed assistance. When 
the National Society was re-organized recently a few members of 
the former organization in Fairfield met and re-organized in har- 
mony with the suggestions of the Washington authorities. The 
local Auxiliary is now prepared to help in time of fire, plague, 
flood, war or disaster of any kind. A great work of humane min- 
istry is achieved through this organization, its fraternal activities 
reaching unto the uttermost parts of the earth. 




Fairfield Fresh Air Home 



59 
AUXIUARY, No. 29. 

As a matter of historical interest the names of the officers and 

committees serving Auxiliary, No. 29, and the Children's Branch 

during the Spanish- American War, 1898, are recorded as follows: 

Mrs. H. S. Glover, Chairman 

Miss M. F. Sturges, Secretary 

Miss Mary B. Kippen, Treasurer 

Executive Committee 

Mrs. A. E. Beeman Mrs. E. W. Harral 

Mrs. Oliver G. Jennings Mrs. H. C. Sturges 

Mrs. F. S. Child Miss A. R. Jennings 

Miss S. B. Nichols Mrs. James O. Wright 

Mrs. J. H. Hewit Miss Alice Bartram 

Miss Emma F. Wakeman Mrs. S. F. Mills 

Miss Annie B. Jennings Mrs. Charles Clucas 

Mrs. Simon Bradley Mrs. M. C. Pierce 

Miss A. O. Morehouse Mrs. A. P. Hinckley 

Mrs. Howard Wakeman 

Cutting Committee 
Mrs. H. C. Sturges, Chairman 

Ways and Means Committee 
Miss Mary B. Kippen, Chairman 

Purchasing Committee 
Miss Emma F. Wakeman, Chairman 

Entertainment Committee 

Miss A. O. Morehouse, Chairman 

Mrs. F. S. Mills, Secretary, pro tem. 

Miss Emma F. Wakeman 

Children's Auxiliary 
Helen E- R. Glover, Pres. Theodora M. Child, Vice-Pres. 

Annie A. Sturges, Treas. Eleanor Hewit, Sec. 



6o 

THE DOROTHY RIPLEY CHAPTER 

OP 

The Daughters of the American Revoi^ution 
Founded in 1893 

Regent 
Mrs. Edmund Guilbert 

Vice-Regent 
Mrs. George B. Bunnell 

Recording Secretary 
Mrs. E. E. Wells 

Treasurer ;; 

Miss Lottie E. Lacy 

Corresponding Secretary 
Miss Abbie Peffers 

Historian 
Mrs. Nehemiah Perry 

Registrar 
Miss Cornelia Pomeroy 

This chapter has been liberal and industrious in patriotic ser- 
vices. Frequent contributions to local and national movements 
mark the years of its history. 

Perhaps its most notable work is the elegant granite fountain 
which was reared in 1903 on the small plat near the Southport 
Post Office. The day of its dedication will be long remembered. 
A great company of friends and citizens assembled. Eloquent 
addresses were delivered. The Wheeler & Wilson band rendered 
appropriate musical selections. Such gifts not only quicken local 
pride and add to the dignity of a town. They also enrich life 
and serve the helpful social purposes. 




Memorial Fountain, Southport 



6i 
THE EUNICE DENNIE BURR CHAPTER 

OP 

The Daughters of the American Revolution 

Founded 1894 

Regent 

Mrs. Frank S. Child 

Vice-Regent 

Miss Emma F. Wakeman 

Recording Secretary 

Miss Emma E. Brown 

Corresponding Secretary 
Miss Loretta B. Perry 

Registrar 
Mrs. Francis H. Brewer 

This patriotic society named in honor of Eunice Deunie, the 
accomplished wife of Hon. Thaddeus Burr, has been an efficient 
contributor to the well-being of the town. The marking of his- 
toric sites, the commemoration of historic events, the encourage- 
ment of patriotism in our public schools, the care of God's Acre 
where rest the forms of many Revolutionary soldiers — these are 
some of the helpful services which the Society has rendered the 
town. For twelve years the Chapter has conducted an Independ- 
ence Day celebration on the Green at ten o'clock in the morning — 
an occasion which has proved most delightful and inspiring. The 
Society has a room in the second story of the Memorial Library 
which is furnished and adorned with many interesting articles 
and heirlooms. The addresses gathered into the volumn entitled 
"An Old New England Town," were prepared and delivered by 
request of the Eunice Dennie Burr Chapter and the book is dedi- 
cated to the members of the Society. 



62 

FAIRFIEI.D MEMORIAL LIBRARY 

Founded 1876 

President 

Oliver G. Jennings 

Vice-President 

Frank S. Child, D.D. 

Secretary 
Rev. Allen E. Beeman 

Treasurer 
Amory E. Rowland 

Librarian 

Miss Emma F. Wakeman 

Assistant Librarian 

Miss Eleanor B. Morehouse 

Library Committee 

Chairman, Frank S. Child 

Secretary, Allen E. Beeman 

Henry C. Sturges Mrs. Mabel Osgood Wright 

Wm. A. Wheatley Miss Annie B. Jennings 

Mrs. Wni. B. Glover 

House and Grounds Committee 

Chairman, Charles B. Jennings 

Samuel H. Wheeler, Wm. H. Donaldson, M.D. 

Finance Committee 
Chairman, Oliver G. Jennings 
Henry S. Glover, Amory E. Rowland. 

This library was organized and incorporated in 1876 through 
the inspiration and leadership of Mr. Morris W. Lyon, who gave 
most generously to the institution and cherished it with unswerv- 
ing fidelity during the later years of his beneficent life. Although 
called by its founder a memorial of our national independence 




Fairfiei-d Me:morial Library 



63 

and other important events, it is really a memorial of Mr. Lyon, 
witnessing to his local patriotism and his spirit of noble helpful, 
ness. Associated with him in loyal co-operation when the library 
received its charter was Rev. Samuel Osgood, D.D., the first 
President of the Board, Captain Isaac Jennings, Rev. James K. 
Lombard, Mr. Oliver B. Jennings, Mr. Samuel Morehouse, Rev. 
E. E. Rankin, D.D., and Mr. John Glover. 

The edifice which now serves the association, built by popular 
subscription, was dedicated on the afternoon of June eleventh, 
1903. A large and notable company was present on the occasion 
and addresses were made by Rev. Samuel Hart, D.D., President 
of the Connecticut Historical Society, Prof. Henry Fairfield 
Osborn, Ph.D., of Columbia University, Prof. William E- Phelps, 
Ph.D., of Yale University, Hon. John H. Perry, President of the 
Pequot Librar)^ Association, Southport, and ex- President Timo- 
thy Dwight, D.D., EE.D., of Yale University. 

The library is free — supported by the gifts of friends and pa- 
trons. It is open six days of the week. The assembly room on 
the second floor is given to the uses of the Fairfield Flistorical 
Society for their collections, and is also used for lectures and 
public meetings. 

FAIRFIELD BEACH AND THE BATHING PAVILION. 
Directors of the Association 
President, Oliver G. Jennings 
Secretary and Treasurer, H. Edwards Rowland 
Edward W. Harral, Frederick Sturges, Samuel H. Wheeler. 
This beach has been a favorite resort of pleasure tor genera- 
tions. The Beach Association was organized 1886. A convenient 
and commodious club house was erected and members of the 
association enjoyed its privileges. In response to public wishes 
the building has been enlarged and a second house added to the 
plant. 

The assembly room on the second floor of the large pavilion 
affords facilities for dances, suppers, concerts and amateur dra- 
matic performances. 



64 

PEQUOT LIBRARY, SOUTHPORT 

Founded 1894 

President 

< Hon. John H. Perry 

Vice-President 

George Bulkley 

Secretary 

C. O. Jelliff 

Treasurer 

R. P. Curtis 

Librarian 

Miss Josephine Heydrick 

Assistant Librarian 
Miss Frances D. Gleason 

In 1894 this library, built and equipped by the munificent gen- 
erosity of Mrs. Elbert B. Monroe, was opened to the public. 
Named in commemoration of the Pequot fight, which waged in 
sight of the spot on which the edifice stands, it has become a 
treasure house of precious books which have to do with Ameri- 
can history. A rare and unique collection has been gathered at 
a great expenditure of money and service — one of the most valu- 
able and illuminative along certain lines which the country 
affords. The library contains more than 34,000 volumes. The 
building standing in the midst of a generous and beautiful lawn — 
the former homestead of the late Frederick Marquand and the 
former home of his niece, Mrs. Monroe — is a splendid adorn- 
ment to the town. The library is free to all citizens, admirably 
conducted, and a great educative force. "Fortunate, even among 
New England towns," observes Judge Perry, "is this of ours, 
and, I am persuaded, also worthy. It only remains for us to 
show appreciation and an increasing wide-spread intellectual 
blessing is assured." 




Peouot Library, Southport 



65 

SASQUANAUG ASSOCIATION, SOUTHPORT 

Organized 1887 

President 

Mrs. John H. Perry 

First Vice-President 

Miss Frances Wakeman 

Second Vice-President 

Mrs. Roderick Curtis 

Secretary 

Mrs. Wilbur C. Jennings 

Treasurer 
Mrs. H. H. Perry 

This association has for its object the improvement of South- 
port. During the years of its service the society has been a most 
loyal contributor to the health, safety and attractiveness of the 
village. It has raised large sums of money which have been ex- 
pended in laying pavements throughout the village and in light- 
ing its streets, draining portions of the town, adorning various 
sections and rendering the place more healthful and beautiful. 

The association holds a considerable sum of money given by 
living donors or left by will for its good purposes. It has also 
built for its members and patrons a large bathing pavilion on the 
South port beach. 

THE VILIvAGE IMPROVEMENT SOCIETY, FAIRFIELD 

Organized 1901 

President 

Benjamin Betts 

Vice-President 

Miss Mary B. Kippen 

Secretary 
Rev. Allen E. Beeman 

Treasurer 
Miss S. E. Betts 
This Society has been a helpful agent in fostering various good 



66 

works. The chaste, substantial fountain near the Memorial 
Library, is one of the valuable contributions made by the Society. 

The sprinkling of the main street during summer, and the 
placing of lights where they were especially needed, has also been 
done under the direction of this association. 

The work of village improvement was inaugurated many years 
ago under the efficient leadership of several prominent citizens. 
Through the generosity of Mr. Frederick Sturges a ver)^ import- 
ant task in drainage was done and much accomplished for the 
better sanitation of the village, Mr. Sturges also constructed 
several miles of excellent macadam road which he continues to 
keep in fine condition. The late Frederick Brouson was likewise 
a benefactor — macadamizing the highway between Southport and 
Greenfield Hill. Mr. Oliver G. Jennings is a third contributor 
to this form of public progress — macadamizing the highway be- 
tween Osborn Hill and the main street — a kind of service and 
benefit which appeals to all classes of men and wir s universal 
praise. The town owes a great debt to her public-spirited citi- 
zens who have given freely their abundant means and their per- 
sonal interest and devotion in behalf of numerous helpful works. 
The macadam road between Ash Creek and Southport was built 
largely by private subscription. The East Cemetery, recently 
enclosed by a substantial stone wall and fence and made attracti\e 
by macadam roads and patriotic watch-care, bears witness to this 
prevailing loyal impulse. 

THE COUNTRY CLUB, GREENFIELD HILL 

Incorporated Feb. 226., 1902. 

President 
Nellis H. Sherwood 

Secretary 
Mrs. D. B. Adams 

Treasurer 
J. Nelson Hutchinson 

This organization has enjoyed a remarkable prosperity, start- 
ing in a modest way and expanding in its usefulness until it has 
become one of the most popular and profitable institutions in the 




The Fairfield Fountain 



67 

town. The development of a pleasant, healthful social life, the 
encouragement of legitimate sport, the fostering of agricultural 
and horticultural interests and the general uplift of rural life — 
these are the chief ends in view. The founders and supporters 
of the Club have achieved their aim. One of the delightful fea- 
tures of each autumn is the Fair conducted by this organization 
on their grounds — an event which has come - to be regarded as 
important to a wide extent of territory — an event which draws 
together the largest number of people accustomed to assemble in 
any part of this region. 

THE GRANGE, GREENFIEED HILL 

Master 
Simeon Pease 

Lecturer 
Frank H. Whiting 

Secretary 
D. Frank Brown 

Treasurer 
John P. Morehouse 

THE CONSUMERS' LEAGUE 

President 
Mrs. William B. Glover 

First Vice-President 
Miss Annie B. Jennings 

Second Vice-President 
Mrs. Samuel H. Wheeler 

Secretary 
Miss Bessie L. Child 

Treasurer 
Mr. J. Biting Deyo 

Auditor 
Mr. William A. Wheatley 

Associated with the Officers as Members of the 
Executive Board 
Rev. Allen E. Beeman Rev. Frank S. Child, D.D. 

Mrs. James O. Wright Mrs. W. H. Hinckley 



68 



AUDUBON SOCIETY OF THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT 
For the Preservation of Birds 

Founded at Fairfield, Jan. 28th, 1898 

President 

Mrs. James Osborne Wright (Mabel Osgood Wright), Fairfield 

Vice-President 

Mrs. Edward Livingston Wells, Southport 

Rev. Allen E. Beeman, Fairfield Mrs. Morris F. Tyler, New Haven 

Honorary Vice-Presidents 
Mr. John H. Sage, Portland Mr. Chas. S. DeForest, New Haven 

Mrs. Nathaniel Wheeler, Bridgeport Mrs. E. Livingston Wells, Southport 

Rev. Edmund Guilbert, D.D., " 
Mr. Charles M. Oilman, " 

Hon. John H. Perry, " 

Miss C. M. Milbank, Greenfield Hill 
Mr. Jonas B. Kissam, " " 

Mrs. Thomas K. Noble, Norwalk 
Hon. E. J. Hill, 

Mrs. Melbert B. Carey, Ridgefield 
Hon. P. C. Lounsbury " 

Mrs. E. L. Scofield, Stamford 
Miss Maria W. Averill, Danbury 
Mrs. J. L. Fauton, " 

Hon. F. J. Kingsbury, Waterbury 
Secretary 
Mrs. William B. Glover, Fairfield 

Assistant Secretary 
Miss Fanny B. Hincklev, Fairfield 

ScHooiv Secretary 
Miss F. A. Hurd, South Norwalk 

Treasurer 
Miss Mary B. Kippen, Fairfield 

Executive Committee 
Mrs. Samuel H. Wheeler, Fairfield Mrs. E. L. Wells, Southport 

Mrs. Morris P. Tyler, New HaYcn 
Mr. WillardG.VanName, " 
Mrs. C. K. Averill, Bridgeport 
Miss Grace R. Moody, " 
Mr. Howard H. Knapp, " 
Mrs. Catherine M. Spaulding, B'port 
Mrs. Walter M. Smith, Stamford 
Miss Katharine A. Wilcox, Westport 
Mrs. Chester H. Brush, Danbury 
Miss F, A. Hurd, South Norwalk 



Mrs W. D. Bishop, Jr., 
Hon. Morris B. Beardsley, " 
Mr. Chas. K. Averill, 
Charles C. Godfrey, M.D., 
Geo. L. Porter, M.D., 
Mr. David F. Read, " 

Mrs. Oliver G. Jennings, Fairfield 
Mrs. Henry C. Sturges, " 

Mr. Samuel H. Wheeler, ' ' 
Mr. Henry S. Glover. " 

Rev, Frank S. Child, D.D., " 
Mrs. Nehemiah Perry, " 

Miss Laura G. Jones, Hartford 



Miss Mary B. Kippen, " 

Mrs. James O. Wright, " 

Mrs. W. B. Glover, 
Mrs. H C. Sturges, 
Miss Fanny B. Hinckley " 

Rev. Allen E. Beeman, " 

Miss Lottie A. Lacey, Southport 
Mrs. Edmund Guilbert, " 
Mrs. Howard N. Wakeman, S'port 
Mrs. W. H. Holman, 



Mr. William Smith, South Norwalk 




The Gould Homestead 



69 

This is a vState organization, but Fairfield has been its home 
and headquarters from the inception. Many of its officers and 
active workers live in the town. The splendid work which the 
Society has done m the matter of general nature study is well 
known as well as for bird protection. By means of lectures, pic- 
tures, pamphlets, traveling libraries, public meetings and untir- 
ing officials it has proved to be a royal friend to birds and men. 

THE GOULD HOMESTEAD— SUMMER HOME 
FOR WOMEN 
The daughters of the Hon. John Gould bequeathed their 
Homestead and the major portion of their estate to Charles B. 
Jennings, Rev. Frank S. Child, Hamilton S. Shelton and Samuel 
M. Garlick in trust for the purpose of maintaining "a free Sum- 
mer Home for white, unmarried Protestant females, between the 
ages of eighteen and fifty years, who may be wholly dependent 
upon their own labor for support and residing in the County of 
Fairfield." 

This Home — which commemorates the distinguished services 
of a family connected with the history of town and colony since 
the years of first immigration to Connecticut — continues in char- 
acteristic way the generous ministrj^ of this eminent line of public 
benefactors. 

FAIRFIELD HISTORICAL SOCIETY 

Members of the Executive Council 

President 

Frank Samuel Child, D.D. 

Vice-President 
Henry Cady Sturges, Esq. 

Secretary 

Rev. Allen Everett Beeman 

Treasurer 

Samuel Hickox Wheeler 

William Hanford Burr John Hoyt Perry 

Oliver Gould Jennings Winthrop Hoj't Perry 

Milton Silliman Lacey Amory Edwards Rowland 



70 

This Society was organized at a meeting held iu the historic 
Sherman mansion on June 17th, 1902 — the one hundred and 
twenty-seventh anniversary of the battle of Bunker Hill. Its 
object is to foster a spirit of local and national patriotism by pub- 
He meetings, historical research, the marking of interesting sites, 
the publication of papers and documents, and the collection and 
preservation of old letters, journals, books, furniture, garments 
and heirlooms handed down from an honorable ancestry. 

One of its- first tasks was the copying of "Volume A" of the 
Land Records belonging to the town. This book was rapidly 
disintegrating. At an expense of $350 a copy of the ancient 
book was made, an index was prepared and the completed work 
presented to the town at the annual meeting Monday, October 
2nd, 1905. 

Another work of importance which has engaged the Society is 
the platting of the town. The history of each homestead lot — 
the names of successive owners — the character of the building 
located upon the property and other interesting details — such is 
the work of platting the town. 

The initiative has been taken in erecting a monument to the 
memory of Roger Ludlow the founder of Fairfield. 

The Society has issued seven publications — its regular Annual 
Reports, the Commemoration of the One Hundredth Anniversary 
of the Fairfield Academ}^ and a Hand-Book of Local History. 

A museum of antiquities has already been established in the 
second story of the Memorial Library where the Society holds its 
public meetings. Numerous valuable and suggestive gifts have 
been received. Friends are cordially invited to co-operate in the 
work. 

The Society has a membership of more than two hundred citi- 
zens and well wishers. The need of a separate, fire-proof build- 
ing, devoted exclusively to its purposes, is to-day imperative. 
An endowment for the support of such an institution has been 
started by the generous bequests of three deceased friends. The 
Society promises to become one of the most important educational 
factors in the life of this rich, historic section of New England. 




Mill River Ford 



71 
BIBUOGRAPHY. 

Colonial Records of Connecticut. 

Town Records of Fairfield. 

Records of the Prime Ancient Society. 

Schenck's — History of Fairfield. 

Guilbert's — Annals of An Old Parish. 

Address on the Two Hundred and Fiftieth Anniversary of Pub- 
lic Worship in Fairfield. 

Hobart's — First and Second Address to the Members of the 
Episcopal Separation in New England. 

Todd's — Life of Joel Barlow. 

Todd's — In Olde Connecticut. 

Centennial Commemoration of the Burning of Fairfield 

Historical Sermons of Hewit, Humphrey, Atwater, Rankin and 
Child. 

Fisher's — L,ife of Prof. Benjamin Silliman. 

Davis' — Memoirs of Aaron Burr. 

Dwight's — Travels in New England and New York. 

Barber's — Historical Collection. 

Trumbull's — History of Connecticut. 

Hollister's — History of Connecticut. 

Lossing's — Field Book of the American Revolution. 

Todd's — Genealogy of the Burr Family. 

Wakeman's — Genealogy of the Wakeman Family. 

Child's— An Old New England Town. 
A Colonial Witch. 
A Puritan Wooing. 
An Unknown Patriot. 
Friend or Foe. 
The House with Sixty Closets. 

Wright's — The Friendship of Nature (Pictures of Fairfield 
Scenery). 

Wright's — Flowers and Ferns in their Haunts (Descriptive of 
Fairfield Flora). 

Beers' — John Jones. 

Beers' — Judge Roger M, Sherman. 



72 

Perry's — The Great Swamp Fight in Fairfield. 

Perry's — Andrew Ward, An Historical Sketch 

Child's — Ministers in the Prime Ancient Society. 

Centennial of the Fairfield Academy. 

Annual Reports of the Fairfield Historical Society. 

Unveiling of the Andrew Ward Monument. 

Laying of the Corner Stone of Fairfield Memorial Library. 

Dedication of Memorial Library, 1903. 

Report of the Fairfield Fresh Air Home. 

Report of the Fairfield Fresh Air Hospital for Convalescent 
Soldiers. 

The Sixth Sanctuary. 

Mrs. Kate E. Perry's — The Old Burying Ground of Fairfield. 

Town's — Detail of the American Revolution. 

Taylor's — Roger Ludlow, The Colonial Lawmaker. 

History of the Pequot War — Contemporary Accounts of Mason, 
Underbill, Vincent and Gardener — Reprinted from the Collec- 
tions of the Massachusetts Historical Society. 

Memoirs of Col. Benjamin Tallmadge, prepared by Himself. 

Contributions to the Ecclesiastical History of Connecticut. 

Beardsley's — History of the Episcopal Church in Connecticut. 

Hinman's — Connecticut in the American Revolution. 

Bulkley's — Mill River, Southport, Reminiscences of the Past. 

Higgings' — Dorothy Q. Hancock. 

Beers' — Major Nathan Gold. 

Mill's — Manuscript Notes on Fairfield. 

Mill's — Notes for Meeting of Colonial Dames at "Mailands," 
Oct. 1 2th, 1905. 

Child's — Major Nathan Gold. 

Memorial of Nathaniel Hewit, D.D. 

Memorial of Heman Humphrey, D.D. 

Atwater's — Address on Judge Roger M. Sherman, 

Auxiliary, No. 29 — American National Red Cross Relief Com- 
mittee. 

Sturges' — Social and Intellectual Life in Old Fairfield. 

Todd's — History of Redding. 




Saved from the Burning, 1779 



73 

Kurd's — History of Fairfield County. 

The Fairfield Gazette (1787). 

Child's — "A Church of the Established Religion in Connecti- 
cut" — "Being an Historical Sketch of the First Church of 
Christ and the Prime Ancient Society of Fairfield," Commem- 
orating the Two Hundred and Seventieth Anniversary of 
Public Worship in Town. 

The Southport Chronicle. 

The Fairfield Record. 

The Weekly Times. 

Manuscripts — Genealogical, Descriptive and Historical — belong- 
ing to the Fairfield Historical Society. 

Osborne's — Captain Samuel Smedley. 






74 

The Rev. Andrew Eliot, A. M., to his father, the 
Rev. Andrew Eliot, D. D. 

"Fairfield, May 21st, 1778 
Rev. and Hon'd Sir : 

Can 3^ou think it ? On Monday 

Evening in Election Week — In Hartford, the Capital of the 
State — in the Court House — the place where the Fathers of the 
Senate meet — at the most public time, and in the most public 
manner, was acted Tancred and Sigismunda, by the Junior 
Sophister Class of Yale College, who had been forbidden to act 
the same at Glastonbury (where they have lately studied) and 
who embraced the opportunity of vacation and secured the Court 
House for the purpose. To this succeeded a farce of their own 
composing in which Gen 'Is Burgoyne and Prescot were intro- 
duced. To keep up the characters of these Generals, especially 
Prescot, they were obliged (I believe not to their sorrow), to 
indulge in very indecent and profane language. 

The audience consisted of the Gentry of Hartford and the 
vicinity, and a number of strangers, among whom were Dr. 
Rodgers and Mr. Tennent. These Rev'd Gentlemen were much 

offended at the profane language introduced What 

adds to the illegality of the affair is that the actors were not 
only dressed agreeable to the characters they assumed as Men, 
but female apparel and ornaments were put on some, contrary 
to an express statute. Besides it cost the lads sixty p' unds ster- 
ling to prepare for the exhibition." .... 



%^*^^*fft3* 




BSrt::::i£S? ••i^Zir*"'.'' S^ ' 



MiLiv Plain Green 



75 
THE BURNING OF FAIRFIEI^D." 
By Timothy Dwight. 



On yon bright plain, with beauty gay," 
Where waters wind and cattle play," 
Where gardens, groves and orchards bloom," 
Unconscious of her coming doom," 
Once Fairfield smiled. The tidy dome," 
Of pleasure and of peace, the home," 
There rose ; and there the glittering spire," 
Secure from sacrilegious fire." 
And now no scenes had brighter smiled," 
No skies, with purer splendor mild," 
No greener wreath had crowned the spring," 
■ Nor sweeter breezes spread the wing," 
Nor streams through gayer margins rolled," 
' Nor harvests waved with richer gold," 
' Nor flocks on brighter hillocks played," 
' Nor groves intwined a safer shade." 
' But o'er her plains, infernal war" 
' Has whirled the terrors of his car," 
' The vengeance poured of wasting flame," 
' And blackened man with endless .shame." 



4^"'%^*e^™ 



THE F"AIRriEUD fRINXIIMO CO. 
F-AIFtF-ieLO, CONN. 



Lh JL 03 



FAIRFIELD 



Ancient and Modern 



A. Hand Book: of Uocal History 



By 



FRANK SAMUEL CHILD 



IllUiStrated 



Rairfielcl Historical Society 

Connecticut 

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